Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Alabama Statehouse on Tuesday to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid in the state.
Groups like Alabama Arise, the March of Dimes, and the Alabama Rural Health Association emphasized the benefits of expanding Medicaid to the state of Alabama and its economy before addressing state representatives.
According to Clyde Jones, the President of Alabama Arise, implementing this initiative would not only ensure the sustainability of rural hospitals but also enable them to continue providing essential healthcare services to the entire community. He emphasized that the most significant impact of this measure would be the ability to save lives.
Around 300,000 Alabamians remain uninsured as they are unable to qualify for Medicaid due to the requirement of a family of three earning less than $5,000 per year.
According to Honour Hill, the director of March of Dimes maternal and infant, pre-conception care, also referred to as care before pregnancy, holds great significance in determining the path of maternal and infant health. Unfortunately, a significant number of women in Alabama either lack insurance coverage or face barriers in accessing the essential care they require and deserve.
Expanding Medicaid is not only crucial for providing coverage to the impoverished population but also plays a vital role in preventing the closure of numerous rural health providers. Additionally, it would encourage more healthcare professionals to establish practices in rural areas.
“Our hospitals are in a precarious situation. Approximately 80% of our rural hospitals are currently experiencing financial losses, putting them in critical condition,” expressed Farrell Turner, President of the Alabama Rural Health Association. “Although we have been fortunate not to have lost any hospitals since the onset of COVID-19, Pickens County unfortunately closed its doors just a month prior to the pandemic.”
According to Debbie Smith with Cover Alabama, there are reports from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama suggesting that Medicaid expansion would be self-sustaining for a minimum of six years. Although the governor’s office expresses concerns about the long-term affordability of Medicaid expansion, Smith argues that the research indicates otherwise.
According to Smith, there are additional measures that can be taken to fund the expansion. However, she did not provide any further details on what those measures might entail.
