Discussions with Decisionmakers: Sen. Jack Williams

Background

Senator Williams was born in Mobile County and is a passionate farmer. Senator Williams was elected to the Alabama Senate in 2018 after serving one term in the Alabama House of Representatives. He is a member of the Senate Healthcare Committee. Senator Williams represents Alabama’s 34th District covering Mobile County.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself – Primary occupation? Interests? Hobbies?

I’m a farmer by trade, and I went into the nursery business. My son also works in the nursery business.

What first prompted you to consider running office?

Mostly because of the way things were being run in our state, plus people asked me. I thought, hey, why not?

How does your background help serve you on the Health Committee and also the Legislature?

Building a business from the ground up and taking on numerous tasks. My unique perspective of living in a rural area allows me to relate to more.

What are some health-related issues important to your district and your constituents?

Getting more doctors out into rural areas. We are also against scope creep.

What can be done to alleviate the unnecessary and growing administrative and regulatory burdens and laws being placed on the medical community by insurers and government payers like Medicare and Medicaid?

We have to see significant money come into our rural hospitals. We are losing rural hospitals at an alarming rate and that needs to change quickly.

What do you think people understand the least about our health care system?

They don’t always understand quite how much the medical community has given up. People are sacrificing quite a bit to keep our state alive and healthy. They deserve our thanks.

If you could change anything about our state’s health care system, what would it be?

I want to help doctors who have to travel far to reach patients to be able to get to those patients.

Do you have a position on the expansion of Medicaid?

I’m all for it.

How can the Medical Association – and physicians statewide – help you address Alabama’s health challenges?

Please come talk to me. With their help, I can help fight issues they care about.