Since the Supreme Court ruling on the health reform law, many Georgians involved in health care have been hyper-interested in the state's decision whether to expand Medicaid.

The reform law envisions that the states will expand Medicaid, and it originally limited their flexibility to refuse. But the court, in its June ruling, restored that flexibility. So expansion is a hot issue in Georgia as well as other states.

For those opposing the Affordable Care Act, which they call Obamacare, the November elections are crucial. Republicans have promised that if they win the presidency and full control of Congress, they will repeal the act.

Under that scenario, the Medicaid expansion issue would disappear. There would be nothing to decide.

But if President Barack Obama wins, or if Democrats remain strong enough in Congress to block repeal, expansion is still on the table. And consumer advocates as well as some industry officials are formulating arguments to persuade Georgia's Republican political leadership that adding to the Medicaid rolls would be beneficial.

Medicaid, jointly financed by the state and federal governments, currently covers 1.5 million poor and disabled Georgians.