Official Statement on the Medicaid Funding Crisis

May 5, 2016 – Alabama’s physicians are urging our state lawmakers and Gov. Bentley to start now to find a permanent revenue solution to fully fund Alabama Medicaid before the next fiscal year.

“Alabama already runs the most bare-bones Medicaid program in the country,” said Medical Association Executive Director Mark Jackson, “so to end this legislative session without an appropriate funding solution is more than heartbreaking. It’s dangerous. In just five months, one-quarter of our state’s population will be at risk of losing their access to health care because of the legislature’s inability to come to an agreement on funding options that would have helped close the $85 million gap in Medicaid’s budget. More than half the births in Alabama and 47 percent of our children are covered by Medicaid, as well as 60 percent of Alabama’s nursing home residents. Without full funding, the Medicaid program will collapse, leaving these individuals without coverage. We are asking Gov. Bentley and our legislators begin work today to find a permanent funding plan to secure Medicaid and reassure our residents that the medical care they need will remain within their grasp. The Medical Association remains ready to work with our elected officials to find a permanent solution to the Medicaid funding crisis.”

The Medical Association believes Alabama Medicaid is more than an insurance program for the poor and underinsured and must be fully funded as it is critical to the health care infrastructure of our state. Alabama Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible children, pregnant women, and severely disabled and impoverished adults – about 1 million Alabamians.

Alabama’s physicians strongly believe that Medicaid matters … to all Alabamians.

Physician Groups Issue Joint Statement on 2016 Special Session Announcement

July 27, 2016 | MONTGOMERY – Our organizations applaud the Governor and are encouraged that he has taken the first step toward fully funding Alabama Medicaid by announcing his intention to call a special session.

As for his proposal for a lottery, we support the passage of new revenue that will provide for a long-term fix for Medicaid. As with any legislation, we will need to see the details of what he is proposing to ensure that it does in fact fully fund Medicaid’s needs for the long term before we can take a formal position.

In addition to the need for long-term funding, there is also a critical need to fix the $85 million shortfall in the 2017 budget, which the lottery will not do because of the time necessary for implementation. Consequently, it is important that the Governor and lawmakers find both a solution for 2017 and a long-term a revenue stream for Alabama Medicaid. We are concerned that the Governor did not address a short-term funding solution in his announcement today.

Alabama Medicaid is the backbone of our state, supporting the health and welfare of the young and elderly citizens that physicians have pledged to protect during their medical careers. Consequently, we cannot support any solution other than fully funding a program that touches so many lives. Allowing Alabama Medicaid to continue with adequate funding is a smart investment in Alabama and her citizens.

Physician practices, hospitals and nursing homes are among the economic engines driving many Alabama communities. Closure of these health care providers will have a devastating impact on the state of Alabama and the health and prosperity of its citizens. The ripple effect will be felt from Mobile to Huntsville.

Our organizations strongly believe that Medicaid matters … to all Alabamians.

For more information or comment, please contact:

Mark Jackson, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, (334) 954-2500
Linda Lee, Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics, (334) 954-2543
Jeff Arrington, Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, (334) 954-2570

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Official Statement on Special Session/Medicaid Funding

Sept. 7, 2016 – The Medical Association of the State of Alabama would like to thank the members of the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate who supported the passage of the BP legislation today, which will provide much needed additional funding for Alabama Medicaid. We are pleased that our lawmakers have worked together for a solution for FY 2017 as well as providing additional funds for FY 2018. We are hopeful this additional funding will allow physician practices that were forced to lay off individuals to resume normal operations and continue to provide access to care to their Medicaid patients.

“Alabama already runs the most bare-bones Medicaid program in the country,” said Medical Association of the State of Alabama Executive Director Mark Jackson. “Without this additional funding, the cuts that Medicaid had implemented beginning Aug. 1, would have been dangerous to the infrastructure our state’s health care system. This additional funding will provide some stability to the system which covers more than half the births in Alabama, 47 percent of our children, and 60 percent of our nursing home residents.”