Medicaid Archives

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall wants to work with the Trump administration to stop any federal funding of sex-change procedures on children.

Marshall, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, led a coalition of 24 States in filing a letter with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cease paying for these radical transgender practices.

“Medicaid and Medicare should never have been allowed to use taxpayer dollars to fund radical and dangerous sex-change procedures for children,” Marshall said. “We support the Trump administration’s proposal to reverse course. We know the dangers of these procedures firsthand. Through years of litigation defending Alabama’s law, we uncovered a political and medical scandal involving the leading medical guidelines that recommend using sterilizing hormones and surgeries to ‘treat’ children suffering from gender dysphoria.”

https://x.com/AGSteveMarshall/status/2024193762780381486

The letter, sent to Secretary Kennedy, issues direct comments on two proposed rules that would restrict federal funding from continuing to subsidize sex-change procedures for minors under Medicare and Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“The guidelines were built on ideology and politics, not science, and have led to untold harm to children and their parents,” Marshall continued. “Children deserve better, and the first step in helping them is to stop funding the harm.”

In the Alabama-led letter, the coalition discusses evidence uncovered in litigation regarding the “Standards of Care 8” (SOC-8) published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).

The letter extensively discusses evidence showing that WPATH used SOC-8 to advance political and legal goals, changed its treatment recommendations based on politics, departed from well-accepted best practices for creating medical guidelines, hindered the publication of systematic evidence reviews appraising the safety and efficacy of sex-change procedures for minors, and even went so far as deeming castration “medically necessary” for males who self-identify as “eunuchs.”

Marshall has been a strong advocate for the rights of parents on this issue. Last year, he led amicus briefs filed in the Fourth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals that defended President Donald Trump’s executive order banning federal agencies from funding sex-change procedures for minors.

He also led the effort in defending Alabama’s Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act in the courts.

Marshall is joined on the letter by the attorneys general of Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) says Democrats are squarely to blame for the possibility that there could be a partial government shutdown on October 1, 2025.

House Republicans, with the help of just one Democrat, has already passed a bill that would have kept the government funded until Nov. 20, but Democrats have blocked it in the Senate.

Aderholt, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said a government shutdown will be the fault of Democrats.

“Last week the House passed a clean CR to keep the government running,” Aderholt said Thursday.

“This is what Democrats had said they wanted. But then they voted against it and for a shutdown. And Democrats in the Senate also said they would be a no to keep the government running. So, any attempt to say it’s Republicans who want a shutdown, just doesn’t pass muster.”

https://x.com/Robert_Aderholt/status/1971230459808935997

Senate Democrats last week unveiled an alternative CR to fund the government until October 31 that would permanently extend the enhanced health care premium subsidies that are due to expire at the end of this year, as well as restore the $1 trillion in Medicaid funding cut by the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) said the Democrats are just “standing in the way” of getting things done in Congress.

“Americans voted for President Trump, and his plan for our country has already brought great success,” Moore said. “It’s time for Democrats to stop standing in the way and agree to the clean, short-term CR House Republicans already passed so we can get back to work!”

https://x.com/RepBarryMoore/status/1971286346108211467

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Democrats love putting up billboards with outrageous statements and nonsense on them, and the media loves taking those outrageous statements, asking their targets about them to give those angles life.

Everyone involved knows how this works.

Even former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has laid out this tactic in detail, but the media still plays its role and spreads the smears.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval to President Donald Trump’s signature budgetary package — the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Act — in a party line 218-214 vote, sending the $3.4 trillion measure to the president’s desk to sign just in time for the July 4 holiday deadline.

Each of Alabama’s Republican congressional officials voted in favor of the measure, while Democrat U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) were feckless in stopping it.

Republicans celebrated the long-fought passage as “the largest tax cut in American history.”

https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940841386305319258

The reconciliation package extends $4.5 trillion in Trump‐era tax cuts set to expire this year; exempts tips, overtime wages and U.S.-made car‐loan interest from income tax; and delivers additional breaks for seniors and small businesses.

On the spending side, it locks in $350 billion for defense modernization, including the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, and pours more than $175 billion into border security — funding 701 miles of wall, river barriers and the recruitment of 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.

“By codifying President Trump’s agenda of cutting taxes and wasteful spending to put more money back in the hands of families and small businesses, fully funding the border wall, and strengthening our national security through military modernization, this legislation puts American families first,” U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) said after its passage.

On the defense front, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong ushered praise for Alabama’s industrial success, particularly those within his district.

“From our space, defense, and manufacturing sectors to our working families, farmers, and small business owners — all of North Alabama will benefit from President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill,” Strong (R-Huntsville) said.

Among those state-based wins included in the final version of the bill were $4.1 billion for two Space Launch System rockets for the Artemis IV and V missions through Fiscal Year 2029, $20 million for Orion and integration of Orion with SLS, and $100 million for construction and infrastructure projects at Marshall Space Flight Center.

Strong also praised protections for Alabama’s 6% hospital provider tax rate and a $500 million slice of a national $50 billion rural health fund.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, praised the bill as delivering “the America First agenda in a fiscally responsible way.”

Aderholt also highlighted his successful fight to make the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable for lower- and middle-income families.

“As someone who has long championed pro-life and pro-family policies, I was proud to lead the charge to make the Adoption Tax Credit refundable once again,” Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said.

“No family should be denied the opportunity to adopt a child simply because they can’t afford the upfront cost. This provision ensures that families of modest means receive the same support as wealthier households when they open their hearts and homes to a child in need.”

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer said his vote was fundamentally a vote against looming tax hikes on the American people.

“I voted for this bill to prevent families from facing a $4 trillion tax hike,” Palmer (R-Hoover) said on Thursday.

“This bill extends President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts that provided economic relief to American families. Without this bill, a family of four could see a $1,695 tax increase, the average taxpayer would see a 22% tax hike, and families would see their child tax credit cut in half. With the provision of no tax on tips or overtime included in this bill, take-home pay for hard working families could increase by over $10,000 per year and working families making between $15,000 and $30,000 would see their taxes cut by 23%.”

Alabama’s two members of Congress representing the Democratic Party were expectedly morose on Thursday. After multiple days of clamoring from Democrats, the bill passed in spite of their wishes.

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, in his first term representing Alabama’s second congressional district, called the bill “trash,” while longtime lawmaker Terri Sewell said her Republican colleagues, “have perpetrated the greatest betrayal of working families in modern history.”

https://x.com/repscfigures/status/1940557091934187943

Alabama’s House GOP members said on Thursday that they were thankful lawmakers saw through deceptive attempts by Democrats and the mainstream media to frame the bill as counter to the economic interests of working class Americans.

“Despite what many of my Democrat colleagues and the national news media have claimed, this bill does not remove children or veterans from Medicaid or food assistance. What it does do is restore these vital programs to their original purpose — providing a safety net for the poor, pregnant women, children, and individuals with disabilities,” Aderholt said.

Earlier this week, as a byproduct of efforts made by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), the Senate amended the reconciliation bill to create a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program for FY 2026–30 — including $500 million in formula funds for Alabama (about $9.26 million per rural hospital) and a $25 billion competitive fund for which the state is well-positioned to compete.

“In regard to Medicaid, the Democrats have been lying to the American people to invoke fear. Those who are legally eligible for Medicaid will not have their coverage affected by this bill,” Palmer said on Thursday.

Having cleared both chambers, the One Big Beautiful Bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature, which is expected during Fourth of July White House celebrations.

Once enacted, it will represent the most significant overhaul of the federal tax code and social‐welfare programs of his second term.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

After diligent work by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), the One Big Beautiful Bill Act contains major wins for rural health care in Alabama.

The Senate amended the reconciliation legislation to create the Rural Health Transformation Program, a nationwide fund of $50 billion to be distributed across Fiscal Years 2026-2030.

Half of the funding will be formulaic, with Alabama set to receive a total of $500 million. If that funding is split evenly, that’d be over $9.26 million for each of Alabama’s 54 rural hospitals.

That is not counting the other half of the national fund, which will be awarded competitively based on rural health care need. Given Alabama’s well-documented challenges with rural health care, the state is positioned to be a large beneficiary of this $25 billion pot of money, as well.

Another Senate amendment to the legislation benefits Alabama. The Senate’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act protects the state’s Medicaid funding by locking in Alabama’s hospital provider tax rate of 6%.

https://x.com/KatieBrittforAL/status/1940078678207050035

Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Senator Britt outlined how the legislation is designed to protect Medicaid for those truly in need long into the future. Illegal aliens will be removed from Medicaid rolls nationally, and work requirements will be imposed for able-bodied adults ages 18-65 without dependents under the age of 14.

The Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Tuesday after a vote-a-rama that lasted over 24 straight hours. The bill goes back to the House for consideration this week.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

A progressive non-profit in Alabama is lobbying hard against President Donald Trump’s tax and spending package that is currently making its way through the U.S. Senate.

Alabama Arise, which according to their website is a “member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty,” held a press conference in Montgomery last week detailing their opposition to Trump’s “Big, Beautiful, Bill.”

The bill extends the 2017 tax cuts while adding no tax on tips and no tax on overtime pay. The legislation also adds work requirements for Medicaid benefits, increases spending for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and brings back the State and Local Income Tax (SALT) deduction.

“It’s wrong to hurt people who are struggling just to help people who are already far ahead. That’s exactly what the Senate is debating right now,” Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden said during the news conference. “The budget moving through Congress is not only a moral failure. It’s bad policy, and it is a really bad deal for our state.”

The group is claiming that budget bill that would reduce or remove food assistance, health coverage and other vital services for hundreds of thousands of Alabamians who struggle to afford basic needs.

Alabama Arise’s comments on the bill are misleading.

For example, on the issue of food assistance, the bill introduces a modest state cost-share incentive within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to improve program efficiency and accuracy.

Under the Senate’s proposal, states that keep their SNAP payment error rates below 6% will continue to receive full federal funding for benefits. States exceeding that threshold would begin sharing a portion of the cost, but not until fiscal year 2028 – giving states ample time to adjust and improve administration.

Alabama already maintains one of the best SNAP error rates in the nation. Supporters of the legislation argue that the policy encourages sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars without jeopardizing access to benefits for those who qualify.

Alabama Arise has also raised alarms about potential health care impacts, including claims that up to 200,000 Alabamians could lose marketplace coverage.

This appears to reference the scheduled expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC), a temporary COVID-era provision originally passed in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and extended through 2025 under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The EPTC was always intended to be temporary, and its sunset was never under serious consideration for extension by the current Republican-controlled Congress.

Senate lawmakers have pushed back against the 200,000 figure, calling it a significant exaggeration that misleads the public. In reality, the EPTC expansion was based on pandemic-related emergency declarations that are no longer in effect, and its expiration is not a surprise to policymakers or analysts on either side of the aisle.

When it comes to Medicaid, Alabama would not lose funding because of the bill. The Senate version of the legislation protects Alabama’s current Medicaid provider tax rate of 6%, while adding a provision that would invest at least $250 million in Alabama rural hospitals over five years.

The bill’s Medicaid work requirements contain several commonsense exceptions for individuals under 18 and over 65; pregnant women; individuals with mental or physical disabilities; and parents with dependents under age 14. Individuals who do not meet one of the exceptions would need to be working, training, volunteering, or going to school at least 20 hours per week in order to receive Medicaid benefits.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Both members of Alabama’s Democratic Congressional delegation recently decried the passage of President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful, Bill.”

The 1,000-page piece of legislation passed by a vote of 215-214, with no Democrats voting in favor of the measure. The bill includes extending the 2017 tax cuts while also adding no tax on tips and no tax on overtime pay. The legislation also adds work requirements for Medicaid benefits, increases spending for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and brings back the State and Local Income Tax (SALT) deduction.

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) voted against the measure because she believes it inflicts devastating cuts to the programs that Alabama families rely on and will add $5 trillion to the national debt.

“The Trump Tax Bill, which passed the House today, is nothing more than a $4.5 trillion tax giveaway to big corporations and wealthy individuals at the expense of America’s working families,” said Rep. Sewell. “The bill will kick 13.7 million Americans off of Medicaid and cut $300 billion from SNAP benefits for hungry families.”

Simply unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/UVkQaBJ6cH

— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) May 22, 2025

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) also voted against the legislation for similar reasons.

“One in four people in my district receive Medicaid benefits,” Figures said. “These are people who cannot afford to lose health care access. They cannot afford to lose access to SNAP benefits. And the truth of the matter is, the truth is that people will lose those benefits all in an effort to make long money even longer. And so my question is, is there money being longer worth people in my district’s lives being shorter? And it’s not. It never will be. It never can be. We have to stand up for these people.”

Taking away access to Medicaid and SNAP for those who need it most just to benefit the very rich is not worth it, and it never will be. That’s why I voted no on the Republicans’ budget bill. pic.twitter.com/OQNDSmJhmo

— Rep. Shomari C. Figures (@repscfigures) May 22, 2025

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

America received some great news last year when the federal government reported that youth tobacco usage was at historic lows. Keeping young people away from tobacco has long been a government priority, but when it comes to cigarettes the focus should now be on helping adult smokers to quit.

More than 28 million adult Americans continue to smoke cigarettes, including more than 500,000 Alabamans. Smoking not only harms the health of smokers but also hurts society by exposing others to secondhand smoke and increasing our healthcare costs. In Alabama alone, smoking-related diseases adds $2.1 billion to our healthcare expenses every year, including an additional $309 million in Medicaid costs.

It is clear that Alabama lawmakers should prioritize helping our state’s smokers to quit, and that is why I introduced legislation last year that would make it easier for adults who smoke to switch from cigarettes to safer, smoke-free alternatives. I plan to introduce similar legislation in this session and urge my colleagues to join me in this critical effort to improve Alabama’s public health.

Quitting smoking is not easy. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than half of adult smokers try to quit each year, but fewer than one in 10 succeed. This is largely because traditional nicotine replacement therapies—gums, patches, medications, and other products—do not work for everyone. Fortunately, there are other options available.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) heat tobacco without burning it, thus avoiding the production of toxic smoke. This is important because it is the smoke that is responsible for most of the serious health issues related to smoking, such as lung disease and cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has long acknowledged that tobacco and nicotine products fall on a continuum of risk, with traditional cigarettes being the most harmful. In comparison, HTPs are 90 percent safer than traditional cigarettes.

Given this information, Alabama must consider ways to move adults who smoke toward less harmful alternatives. In doing so, we can improve both the health of hundreds of thousands of Alabamans and reduce spending on smoking-related illnesses.

HTPs, though relatively new in the U.S., are popular in more than 60 countries. As HTPs have been introduced into the markets there, cigarette sales have declined. Many people find that HTPs offer a similar experience to smoking a traditional cigarette but without the harmful smoke and fewer dangerous byproducts.

Last year, Mississippi legislators passed Senate Bill 3105, a bill that would lower taxes on HTPs to ensure they are more affordable than cigarettes. This would help create an additional incentive for smokers to try a product that will be better for them.

My bill would do the same. This commonsense approach would not only improve public health but could also save Alabama billions of dollars in healthcare and productivity costs as more people successfully transition away from smoking.

We have a real opportunity to improve public health in Alabama by creating the right regulatory framework to support new products and innovations. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure this legislation moves forward.

Rolanda Hollis serves in the Alabama Legislature representing Jefferson County.

At the recent Alabama League of Municipalities’ 2025 Advocacy Day, a panel of healthcare experts and state officials gathered to address the pressing issues facing Alabama’s healthcare system.

The panel, moderated by Howard Rubenstein, Mayor of Saraland, delved into the state’s challenges around access to care, provider distribution, and the financial struggles of healthcare facilities.

The panel included Kimberly Boswell, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health; Ted Hosp, Vice President of Governmental Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama; Mark Jackson, Executive Director of the Medical Association of State of Alabama; Danne Howard, Deputy Director of the Alabama Hospital Association; and Stephanie Azar, Alabama Medicaid Commissioner.

Rubenstein outlined three major problems plaguing Alabama’s healthcare landscape.

“The biggest issue, from my standpoint, is access to care,” said Rubentstein.

“This is a very complex situation, and Medicaid expansion is just one part of it. There’s multiple other facets to it, but the whole access to care needs to be looked at and, in my opinion, revamped.” He also mentioned the maldistribution of healthcare providers, noting that “we do not have a physician shortage in the state of Alabama. It’s simply a matter of distribution.”

He continued on to express concern over the closure of rural hospitals, pointing out, “It seems every time I read I hear about another rural health care hospital closing. We’ve had multiple hospitals close in the state of Alabama, and now recently, right here in Montgomery, it’s my understanding, there’s questions about maintaining services at one of the largest hospitals in our state,”

“And that’s just plain scary to me,” Rubenstein said.

Commissioner Boswell spoke to the need for improved crisis services and mental health care across the state.

“There are a couple of things in Alabama that we need to do to improve access to care in the state of Alabama for behavioral health care. We need crisis services in all 67 counties, and we need civil commitment beds. We now know that you need at a minimum 30 beds per 100,000 individuals Alabama right now is at 13.4 beds per 100,000 individuals,” said Boswell.

Boswell also highlighted the PASS program, a public-private partnership with Children’s Hospital in Birmingham that provides pediatric access to tele-mental health care.

Hosp, Vice President of Governmental Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, discussed the company’s $24 million rural physician scholarship program, which has already placed 29 practicing physicians in underserved areas.

“We recognize there’s also a nursing shortage in rural communities, so we are now providing nursing scholarships as part of this program. We have a maternal care crisis in the state of Alabama, so we are specifically setting aside a portion of those funds for doctors who go on and get the additional certification to be OBGYN and then go into a rural community and practice.”

He emphasized Blue Cross’s focus on prevention and keeping people healthy – rather than just treating them when they are sick.

Jackson, Executive Director of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama also noted the struggles of recruiting physicians. “We’ve got practices all over the state that are trying to bring in new physicians,” said Jackson.

“You’ve got physicians who have retired early from practice, who have, through COVID, got burned out. We need physicians all over the state, and we have a hard time recruiting physicians to come into Alabama.”

Danne Howard, Deputy Director of the Alabama Hospital Association, reemphasized the healthcare crisis in Alabama, the need for mental health funding, and the challenges of recruiting healthcare professionals to rural areas.

“A hospital isn’t just about what happens in the four walls of a building,” said Howard. “There’s an awful lot of outreach and education and partnerships that translate into much more than if you need surgery or if you need to go to the emergency room, and with that comes great responsibility and a lot of opportunity.”

Commissioner Azar of Alabama Medicaid discussed the agency’s efforts to incentivize quality care and the importance of Medicaid funding for the state’s economy.

“We are very vital to your local community, and to voice support for the funding of the program is always good, because it is just so vital to the economy,” said Azar. “We’re bringing in over $7 billion a year in federal dollars that goes out to pay for the help.”

The panel at the Alabama League of Municipalities Advocacy Day highlighted critical challenges facing Alabama’s healthcare system, including access to care, provider distribution, and financial strain on healthcare facilities.

Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at grace@yellowhammernews.com.

The murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and subsequent arrest of Luigi Mangione have provoked wide-ranging reactions. Sympathy for Mr. Thompson’s family and condemnation of a cold-blooded murder are normal, human responses. Elevating Mr. Mangione to folk hero status is disturbing and invites exploration of the anger toward American healthcare.

The murder of Mr. Thompson for being a healthcare executive evidences the rot afflicting America’s elite universities. Mr. Mangione studied computer science at Penn. His manifesto acknowledges that he had insufficient knowledge to diagnose the problems of American healthcare, but still knew that its executives deserve execution.

Before turning to frustrations, let’s recognize that for those who believe that healthcare is a human right, our system is highly immoral. Care is primarily available based on ability to pay, either directly or through insurance, and being unable to pay affects quality of life and life expectation. Beyond this, medical debt ruins many Americans while enriching many, including Mr. Thompson, who earned over $10 million annually.

Imagine an industry profiting from violating a fundamental human right like freedom. If corporations earned billions from legal slavery somewhere, many might justify violence against their executives.

I do not believe healthcare is a right. The inability to feasibly deliver all the healthcare demanded without charge demonstrates the fundamental flaw here. But dissatisfaction with healthcare is widespread as enthusiasm for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to Make America Heathy Again illustrates.

Two fundamental economic concepts, scarcity and competition, explain much of this anger. America’s healthcare system does not disguise scarcity and suppresses competition.

We live in a world of scarcity. Goods and services must be produced using limited resources. Our wants and desires exceed our ability to satisfy them, leaving many unfulfilled. Rationing determines which wants go unmet.

All economic systems ration but do so differently. No one, from children with toys to the elderly with healthcare, likes being denied something. People will despise the rationing mechanism if they recognize it in action.

Most Americans rely on third party payment for major expenses, including healthcare, meaning that insurers ration medical care. Our system highlights this. A patient and doctor discuss treatments or drugs which neither will pay for. The doctor has an incentive to tell a patient about anything that might help. Ads also alert patients to new drugs.

America spends almost twenty percent of GDP on healthcare and yet public dialogue focuses on coverage insurers deny. Government-run health systems, by contrast, can choose not to provide certain treatments and instruct doctors to never inform patients.

Competition, a key force in markets, is suppressed in healthcare. Insurance is an amazing innovation, pooling resources to pay for major expenses voluntarily and sustainably. But in contrast with home, auto, or life insurance, the insured party rarely purchases health insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid).

Employers buy health insurance for many Americans, so the options details get tailored to their preferences. Healthcare providers arm wrestle insurers (including the government) over coverage. Patients’ preferences enter only indirectly. Consequently, coverage will differ from what Americans might choose for themselves.

Regulation further suppresses competition. Elected officials mandate coverage for certain conditions for regulatory approval. All policyholders share the costs of the dozens of mandates states on average impose.

Healthcare is not marketed like other goods. Patients do not receive pricing and insurance details when deciding on treatment. Medical authorities contend that cost should not affect medically appropriate treatment.

This sounds noble but works to patients’ detriment. Surprise billing rightly angers Americans and stems from no explicit pricing. Car buyers never get billed an extra $10,000 because the full price is set before purchase. Medicine’s special status also hides costly regulations, from limits on slots in medical schools to the prescription system for drugs.

America has a quasi-market healthcare system. Our system features much excellence, especially in medical research and advanced treatments. Frustrations result from a for-profit system suppressing competition. A more consistent embrace of market principles may defuse the anger with American healthcare.

Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.

Senators Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville, Eric Schmitt, and colleagues introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen opportunities for Americans with disabilities.

On Friday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) announced that she has joined Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) in introducing the bipartisan Ensuring Nationwide Access to Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act. Sen. Tuberville has also signed on as a cosponsor of this legislation.

This legislation would allow people with disabilities and their families to save and invest through tax-free savings accounts while protecting eligibility to federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

“The ENABLE Act would empower families, enhance economic opportunities for Americans with disabilities, and strengthen their futures,” said Sen. Britt. “Every child deserves a pathway to reach their full potential, and this bipartisan bill would equip those with disabilities and their families with additional tools to succeed. I applaud Senator Eric Schmitt’s stalwart leadership on this important issue, and I’m proud to support his commonsense legislation.”

“Every human being is created by God and has inherent dignity, including those with disabilities,” said Sen. Tuberville. “After 40 years in the education sector, I have seen firsthand how important it is for teachers, parents, community members, and Congress to work together to ENABLE these people for success. This legislation provides crucial safeguards for people with disabilities to help them invest, save, and achieve independence.”

“My son, Stephen, was my inspiration to run for office in the first place, and since that first day, I have been a staunch advocate for standing up and making life better for those with disabilities,” said Sen. Schmitt. “The ENABLE Act is a fantastic bipartisan opportunity to protect access to federal programs for those with disabilities while safeguarding their ability to invest and save. I’m grateful for the support of Senators Casey, Boozman, Welch, Kaine, Van Hollen, Tuberville, Britt, Mullin, Cotton, Wyden, and Klobuchar, and look forward to pushing this bill across the finish line.”

Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Senators Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon).

The ENABLE Act is supported by Autism Speaks, the National Down Syndrome Society, the ABLE Savings Plan Network (ASPN), the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), BPC Action, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR).

Keith Wargo is the President and CEO of Autism Speaks.

“We are grateful for this bipartisan effort to improve the financial security of people with autism and other disabilities,” said President Wargo. “ABLE accounts are a vital tool, allowing autistic people and their families to save for expenses such as accommodations for working-age autistic adults, accessible housing and transportation, assistive technology, and raising a child on the spectrum. By permanently extending key elements of ABLE policy, the ENABLE Act will not only enhance financial opportunities for the autism community, but also empower autistic individuals to achieve greater financial independence and security.”

Sen. Britt’s office explained that there are over 162,000 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts (or 529A accounts under the Internal Revenue Code). Created in 2014, these accounts allow people with disabilities and their families to save and invest through tax-free savings accounts without losing eligibility for federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Individuals with ABLE accounts have saved $1.74 billion annually.

There are three ABLE provisions set to expire in 2025:

ABLE to Work: An individual with a disability who is employed can contribute an additional amount to his or her ABLE account. This additional contribution cannot be greater than either: the prior year’s federal poverty level for a one-person household ($15,060 in 2024), or the beneficiary’s yearly compensation.

ABLE Saver’s Credit: An individual with a disability who make qualified contributions to their ABLE account can qualify for a nonrefundable saver’s credit of up to $1,000.

529 to ABLE rollover: An individual with a disability may rollover from a 529 education savings account to an ABLE account that are less than or equal to the annual ABLE contribution limit are not subject to income taxation.

The expiration of these provisions would create barriers for individuals with disabilities to save for their future needs, while also likely ensuring further utilization of federal safety net programs. As Congress is one fight away from not reauthorizing these noncontroversial provisions, ENABLE enshrines these provisions into law permanently—providing certainty

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com

Expanding Medicaid in the state is a hot-button issue and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter hinted at a hybrid version as a possibility.

His plan would be a public-private partnership that would utilize Medicaid expansion dollars.

“I’ve always been against expanding Medicaid,” Ledbetter said on “Capitol Journal.” “I don’t think that benefits us. Public-private is a different animal, because their is about half of the people that already does have insurance that wouldn’t be taken off insurance that would actually stay on commercial insurance.”

Ledbetter said the Legislature is looking to other states for examples on how to move forward on the issue.

“Arkansas did a very similar program to that and there’s others out there that have,” Ledbetter said. “I think it certainly doesn’t hurt to look and see how successful they’ve been and how its effected them.”

He also revealed his main reservation about the possible change.

“My biggest thing with expansion, of course, I’ve been in government before being the mayor of a small town; I’ve seen federal programs come and go,” Ledbetter said. “They’re fine when they’re there and they’re paying for it, but then with they go you have to pick up the dollar and that’s not always easy. That’s been my biggest concern about expansion of Medicaid.”

However, Ledbetter did say he is open to discussion on the subject.

“I do think we need to have a dialogue, that’s the position we’re in, that’s what we were elected to do was have a conversation about it,” he said. “We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

One of the suggested plans would expand healthcare by allowing Alabamians who make up to $20,783 a year to be eligible for full Medicaid benefits through a private insurer, which in turn would be subsidized by federal funds.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

Big issues need to be tackled this legislative session.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 p.m.

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and 256 Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories.

Mecca Musick is the CEO of 256 Today. Sign up for the 256 Today newsletter here. Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is showing his support for a Florida regulation that bans using taxpayer dollars for transgender surgeries and other procedures.

Friday, Marshall filed an 18-state amicus brief before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Florida’s healthcare regulation that declines to use Medicaid funds.

“Healthcare authorities in the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, and elsewhere have all recently recognized that gender-transition procedures are experimental, if not pre-experimental,” Marshall said.

The brief is a response to an Eleventh Circuit Court ruling saying that Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration violated the equal protection rights of transgender patients and forces the state’s Medicaid system to pay for these procedures.

“Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration came to the same conclusion,” Marshall said. “Yet the district court rejected that growing consensus and deferred instead to radical interest groups like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which advocates for gender transitioning procedures for gender dysphoric youth and ‘medically necessary’ castration for men self-identifying as eunuchs.

“Thankfully, the Constitution does not put WPATH in charge of the health and welfare of Florida’s citizens.”

This year, Marshall led the effort against an injunction on Alabama’s Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, which bans transgender procedures for minors in the state.

This brief was led by Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Attorneys general from Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia signed on to it.

Marshall has also led similar briefs in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

Medicaid expansion would improve women’s health and expand access to maternal health care across Alabama, a new Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) report found. Expansion also would help reduce racial disparities, improve infants’ health and strengthen rural health care access, the report said.

According to the center, nearly one in six Alabama women (15.9%) of reproductive age (18-44) lack health insurance; the national average is 11.7%. Also, uninsured rates are sharply higher among Hispanic (41.5%) and Native American (46.7%) women in Alabama.

Alabama lawmakers extended the Medicaid postpartum coverage period last year. That extension ensured coverage for a full year after childbirth, up from the previous cutoff of just 60 days afterward.

“State leaders showed they’re willing to address Alabama’s maternal health crisis when they extended Medicaid postpartum coverage last year,” Alabama Arise’s Cover Alabama campaign director Debbie Smith said. “However, these findings show that this step alone is not enough to help mothers and families stay healthy. Alabama should take the next logical step to protect women’s health and expand Medicaid coverage for adults with low incomes.

“We urge Gov. Kay Ivey and legislators to make Alabama a better place for parents and babies by expanding Medicaid.”

Alabama had the nation’s third-worst maternal mortality rate between 2018 and 2020, the report found. The state’s rate (36.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) was significantly higher than the national average (20.4 per 100,000) in those years.

Alabama’s infant mortality rate (7.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) also was higher than the national average (5.4 per 1,000) in 2020. Black babies died at an even higher rate in Alabama that year (11.1 per 1,000 live births).

A decades-long decline in access to maternity and obstetric care in rural Alabama is compounding the statistics, according to Alabama Arise. Twenty-nine of Alabama’s 54 rural counties lost hospital obstetric care providers between 1980 and 2019, CCF found. These closures required women in these counties to travel farther to providers elsewhere. That, in turn, can reduce the timeliness of care and increase barriers for women with limited transportation options.

Medicaid expansion is associated with lower maternal and infant mortality rates, with the greatest benefits for Black women and infants, the news release said. It would also decrease the costs of uncompensated care significantly, allowing more rural hospitals and providers to remain open to continue treating pregnant Alabamians.

“Research shows that stable health coverage for women before, during and after pregnancy can save moms and babies’ lives,” said Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. “Medicaid expansion is an essential investment in the health of Alabamians and builds a solid foundation for the state’s future.”

Along with every state and U.S. territory, Alabama has resumed checking eligibility for all Medicaid members for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

To address the concerns of Medicaid recipients, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama said it is offering guidance, education, and health insurance options to Alabamians who are no longer eligible for Medicaid. The public health emergency ended May 11.

“Our mission is to provide Alabamians access to quality, affordable healthcare,” said Tim Vines, president and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. “We want to serve as a dependable resource for Alabamians so they will have the peace of mind knowing they can remain covered during this time.”

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which prevented states from removing Medicaid recipients during this public health emergency, will no longer apply. Many recipients will need to confirm eligibility or find another health insurance plan.

More than 120,000 Alabamians are at risk of losing Medicaid, Blue Cross said, and approximately 61,000 Alabamians unfortunately may not have access to any other type of coverage.

However, as many as 69,000 will be eligible for coverage either under an Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plan, employer coverage, or a Medicare plan if they have lost their Medicaid health insurance 60 days prior to losing coverage, or any time after coverage ends.

After applying, individuals will have 60 days to enroll in a plan. Many individuals losing their Medicaid coverage and looking for an ACA plan will be eligible for financial assistance, and some could be eligible for a $0 monthly premium health plan. For questions or to explore coverage options, please call 855-890-7416 to speak with a Blue Cross representative.

The National COVID-19 public health emergency began March 13, 2020. Medicaid recipients maintained coverage during the emergency and were only removed if they requested to be removed, were deceased, or moved out of state.

Alabama Medicaid is processing renewals during the recipient’s normal month. Some recipients will automatically renew (i.e., SSI recipients who are still receiving SSI checks), but others will receive renewal packets at their normal time to renew.

Medicaid recipients have several ways to update their addresses, phone numbers, and other information. Visit www.Medicaid.Alabama.gov for more information.

It’s often said the Legislature is technically only required to do one thing each session: Pass a budget.

On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed a General Fund budget, on track for a 6% increase in spending from the previous year, making it the largest budget in state history.

Gov. Kay Ivey proposed the budget last month, which was slightly amended and increased by the House in committee.

Here is the final version approved on Tuesday.

It will now go to the Senate for approval while the Senate takes up the education trust fund Wednesday.

House Chairman of the General Fund Committee Rex Reynolds led the chamber to a 105-0 vote — which is the product of constant efforts by him and fellow lawmakers and agencies leaders.

“The Ways and Means general fund budget includes all of the expenses for the executive, the legislative, and the judicial departments,” Reynolds said.

All state agencies requested an increase in their budget for FY2024. Ivey and the Legislature have been in the process of making those decisions.

Among the notable increases includes a $112 million hike to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, a $836 million increase to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, and a $662 million increase to the Department of Corrections.

The House also passed a supplemental budget to address timely expenses that weren’t accounted for in the current FY2023 budget.

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 for coverage of the 2023 legislative session.

7. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has voiced his support of Florida’s decision to stop using Medicaid to pay for so-called “gender-affirming care,” something Alabama does not do … yet. Currently, Marshall is in the middle of defending an Alabama law that would stop minors in the state from medically transitioning.

6. One of the Tennessee 3 has been sent back to the state Legislature to the cheers of the mob and the indifference of his colleagues after clearly violating the rules of the body. The Nashville City Council chose to vote for him to fill the seat temporarily while running for re-election in a special election. Foolishly, Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson said, “Last Thursday, members tried to crucify democracy, but today we have a resurrection.”

5. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) continues to fight for women’s ability to fairly women’s play sports while a list of traitorous female athletes declare that biological men should be able to play in women’s sports.

4. On the same day an Alabama Democrat said she was ready to move the proposed penalty for parents who don’t secure weapons that end up at schools from a felony to a misdemeanor, a woman in Virginia was indicted for not securing her weapon after her 6-year-old shot a teacher. Alabama State Rep. Barabara Drummond (D-Mobile) also says that the bill has a chance and that Speaker Nathanial Ledbetter (D-Rainsville) said it “sounds like a good bill.”

3. National security concerns are growing over leaks coming from the Pentagon, they apparently include information on spying on allies and adversaries, as well as information about the war in Ukraine. Not only did it expose that the U.S. is spying on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky but it also showed that the idea that Ukraine is winning the war might be a little overblown with reports with questions about Ukrainian weaponry, air defense, and battalion sizes bringing that into doubt.

2. The mass shooter at a Louisville bank that killed 5 and injured 8 was a former Alabama grad and worked at the bank where he carried out his slaughter. Connor Sturgeon live-streamed the shooting after learning he would be fired and writing a letter to his parents telling them about the event.

1. Are Alabama lawmakers warming up to a Medicaid expansion in the state? A poorly read site says so, and aldotcom is repeating it, but they published a lot of words from people with organizations that would benefit from a move with no lawmakers mentioned, even though the article opens with, “As Alabama lawmakers appear to warm up to the idea of Medicaid expansion.”

LISTEN HERE:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

7. This would never happen to a black student at a predominantly white school

Student Michael Newman attended Howard University for two years (2020-2022) before being expelled. Now he is suing the school for $2 million because of their “hostile learning environment” and for the “pain, suffering, emotional anguish and damage to his reputation.”
Newman was reportedly banned from online chat forums for asking to discuss “whether (1) Black voters didn’t question turning to government for solutions, and (2) reliably voting for the same party every election disincentivized both parties from responding to the needs of the black communities.” He was verbally abused despite apologizing and releasing a statement trying to clarify his good intentions, blocked from all online methods of defending himself, then expelled.

6. South Carolina proposes “Yankee Tax”

South Carolina is not happy about the millions of northeasterners moving to their state and apparently reducing their quality of living. So they’ve proposed a “Yankee tax” which would require those moving in from out of state to pay a one-time fee of $500: $250 for new driver’s licenses and $250 for vehicle registrations.
State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch claims this fee is to make new residents “catch up with the rest of us” and that he thinks $500 won’t stop people from moving to the state. He just wants them to contribute to the state’s infrastructure upfront. Meanwhile, California and New York have proposed legislation to tax people for trying to leave the state.

5. Virginia trying to stop China from buying farmland near military bases

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to sign a bipartisan bill that would ban the Chinese Communist Party from buying farmland in the state, especially near military installations such as Quantico and the Pentagon.
Recent U.S. Department of Agriculture records reveal that Chinese companies and private citizens own an estimated 14,000 acres of Virginia farmland and 1.6 million acres across the country. They’re also investigating a partnership between Ford and a Chinese-owned company, which they’re calling a “Trojan Horse” infiltration of American supply chains.

4. Britt and Tuberville seek to extend Medicare program to rural hospitals

Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), along with a bipartisan group of senators, are seeking to extend the Wage Index Hospital Policy, which offers aid to rural hospitals. The senators have asked Medicare and Medicaid for a 4-year extension, in large part because COVID disruptions made it impossible to evaluate the impact of the program.
Britt said, “Every Alabamian deserves access to quality care and the opportunity to thrive in safe, strong communities – no matter their ZIP Code.” This request comes despite the recent discussion of Medicare’s impending insolvency. On the other side, Alabama has come under criticism for being the only state in the country to not cover genetic breast cancer screenings through Medicaid.

3. Let’s roll on the executions

On Friday, The Alabama Department of Corrections announced it is as “prepared as possible” to resume executions. The Alabama Department of Corrections finished its review of the execution process under Gov. Kay Ivey’s order and now the moratorium on executions is over. Attorney General Steve Marshall is clearly ready to get these executions started again.
Now, a new rule which would prevent criminals from abusing last-minute appeals that call off their executions. The ADOC is also seeking to increase the number of medical professionals who can oversee executions, following issues with attaching IV lines to inmates. Opponents of capital punishment are claiming that the internal review did not identify or seek to fix any problems.

2. REAL school choice options are here

The Parental Rights in Children’s Education Act (PRICE Act) could provide about $6,000 a year in tax dollars for each child in Alabama. The money would be put into an educational savings account (ESA) which could then be applied to private schools, church-based schools, homeschooling, or a public school outside their zoned district. Alabama would phase this system in over four years, with families under an income cap eligible to apply for the first two years, and everyone eligible by the fourth year.
“Number one, it’s the parents’ responsibility to determine what is best for their child,” said State Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia). “Number two, the money ought to follow the child. And number three main point, if you don’t want to participate, you don’t have to participate.”

1. Energy Department says COVID-19 leaked from a lab

The Energy Department revised its stance to state that COVID-19 likely came from a Wuhan lab leak after all. The report, shared with the Wall Street Journal, did not share the new evidence that led them to this “low confidence” conclusion. This was dismissed as a “conspiracy theory” and there are still some in the highest level of government who won’t admit it.
Back in 2021 the FBI already said they thought with “moderate confidence” that COVID-19 came from a lab leak. The CIA is still being cagey, but naturally emerging animal sources have never been definitively identified.

7. Confederate supporters taking today off

State offices in Alabama are observing Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lee Day. The holiday has been a controversial one for years with attempts to get rid of the holiday or rename it, but those attempts have been unsuccessful.
Several other states still observe a Confederate Memorial Day throughout the year, but some, such as Louisiana, are considering doing away with the holiday. During the legislative session, State Representative Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) proposed making Election Day a holiday and ending Confederate Memorial Day, but the legislation didn’t make it out of committee.

6. Robert Bentley calls to expand Medicaid

Former Governor Robert Bentley is now advocating for the state to expand Medicaid, saying that legislators need to “look beyond politics to the needs of our rural communities.” Bentley never expanded Medicaid during his tenure.
Bentley argued that his reason for not expanding the program at the time was due to economic circumstances within the state. Bentley said that with the state’s current economic position, “state leaders should prioritize those issues that don’t otherwise get attention when money is tight. He added, “Expanding Medicaid Insurance coverage would allow these patients to have a local physician and maybe even a small hospital in their county where they would be able to be treated.”

5. Power of Trump endorsement seen in Ohio, not Alabama

In Ohio, former President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance, and it’s expected that this endorsement will show how powerful the Trump endorsement can be in an election.
University of Virginia Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato advised on Fox News that this “is a case where the Trump endorsement could really make all the difference.” While this has been expected in other races, it wasn’t seen as much in the U.S. Senate race in Alabama. Trump has pulled his endorsement from candidate U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) after Brooks was falling in the polls, and the former president’s endorsement was no longer attracting the necessary attention for his campaign.

4. Katie Britt defends deleted BLM post

Last week, it was reported that U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt had deleted multiple social media posts before officially announcing her run for office because “it was pointed out to me that my potential opponents could intentionally mischaracterize that post.” The tweets referenced trips to China and Hong Kong, support for her former boss U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) and support for a Black Lives Matter-led social media protest called “Blackout Tuesday,” with the latter drawing the most criticism.
Britt responded by pointing out that fellow candidate Mike Durant had appeared in a Lincoln Project anti-Trump attack ad but has now explained her support for the “virtual moment of silence. Britt noted, “I’ve never supported and do not support BLM, and there has never been anything on my social media accounts to indicate otherwise. The post referenced in this article was simply intended to show that I was listening, which I think is a cornerstone of being a leader.”

3. Divisive concepts bill should’ve been passed

This year, the Alabama Legislature was unable to pass the “divisive concepts” bill that would “prohibit public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher education and their employees from using or introducing courses of instruction or units of study directing or compelling students to adhere to or affirm certain concepts regarding race, sex, or religion.”
State Representative Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals) said this legislation “was such a no-brainer for a super majority Republican state to pass that didn’t get passed this year, and I’m just left scratching my head…that is such a slam dunk issue.” He added, “[T]he governor’s race in Virginia was won in part over issues like Critical Race Theory being taught in schools, and for Alabama not to pass that bill this year. I mean, I was beyond disappointed that we didn’t get it done.”

2. Massive victory for Joe Biden as he drives down gas prices 3 cents

The word “hero” may be tossed around a bit too liberally these days, but people of all political stripes should be able to set aside their differences and thank President Joe Biden and his administration for lowering gas prices by less than 1% over the last week. His brilliant leadership has lowered the national average three cents in the past two weeks to $4.24 a gallon, a record low for the week.
Yes, it is true that gas prices are up $1.27 in the last year and $1.71 since Biden took office, but the three cents a gallon will save someone filling up a tank 45 cents each time they fill up. Thank you, President Joe Biden for your unflappable clear-headed leadership as we face this crisis you totally had nothing to do with. Gasoline is $5.71 in the San Francisco Bay Area, $3.70 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and $3.72 near Frog Eye, Alabama.

1. Inflation out of control for Alabamians

Recently, Lawrence Jones of Fox News traveled to Demetri’s BBQ in Homewood to speak with customers about issues facing people in the United States. One customer noted how inflation was an issue before Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, and another said President Joe Biden’s “administration is a total train wreck for the working man.”
The customer told the Fox News host, “The working man is getting slammed…I’m seeing businesses go out right and left. We’re doing the best we can…We also run a farm. Fuel and feed prices on that are killing us also. Two years ago, we were killing it. We couldn’t keep up. We had labor, we had material, we had fuel, we had everybody wanting to work. Nobody wants to work now. It’s easier to not work than to work with this administration.”

Included in the fiscal year 2023 general fund budget, which enjoyed bipartisan legislative support and was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this month, is an extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage.

The budget includes $8.5 million dedicated to postpartum care, which state health care leaders indicate will assist in reducing maternal mortality rates.

The extension of Medicaid coverage for new mothers in the Yellowhammer State provides them will access to life-saving health care for 12 months post-delivery. This represents a significant change from the current coverage access time period, which is only 60 days after childbirth.

Public data shows that Alabama holds the nation’s third-worst maternal death rate, with nearly 40 new mothers dying within a year after delivery.

In a release, the Cover Alabama Coalition, a nonpartisan heath care advocacy organization, applauded Ivey and legislative leadership for their inclusion of the extension in next year’s general fund budget.

The extension was widely commended throughout Alabama’s health care community.

Collier Tynes, CEO of VOICES for Alabama’s Children, spoke to the need to address issues surrounding infant and maternal health.

“VOICES for Alabama’s Children applauds Alabama lawmakers for this monumental win for children and families,” stated Tynes. “According to the 2021 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, Alabama is ranked No. 47 in children’s health. One of the most important ways we can change this number is to support infant and maternal health as a hand-in-hand relationship.”

She added, “When a new mom is without physical and mental health care, it is detrimental to the baby’s health and brain development during the most formative years of life. The extension of postpartum health care coverage is a tremendous step toward an Alabama where every child and family is happy, healthy and wildly successful.”

Ashley Lyerly, senior advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Alabama, proclaimed that the extension was vital to improving the state’s maternal mortality rate.

“Improving postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months is an important component of reducing maternal mortality and health disparities in Alabama,” advised Lyerly. “The American Lung Association applauds Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature for including funding to extend postpartum coverage to one year in the FY 23 General Fund budget.”

“We urge Alabama Medicaid to promptly submit a state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” she continued. “We look forward to working with Governor Ivey, the Legislature and Alabama Medicaid to ensure implementation and long-term success of improving access to care for postpartum women.”

According to Alabama Academy of Family Physicians president Vikas Gupta, the move brings the state closer to closing health care coverage gaps.

“The Alabama Academy of Family Physicians is grateful to Governor Ivey for allocating dollars to extend postpartum coverage for women on Medicaid from 60 days to one year,” said Gupta. “This will truly impact the health and well-being of mothers and babies in Alabama. Currently, Alabama has an infant mortality rate of 7.0 deaths before age 1 per 1,000 live births. This extension brings us one step to closing the gaps in coverage and will begin to turn the tide of negative outcomes for this vulnerable population.”

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

With the influx of federal money into state coffers, appropriators in the Alabama Legislature are considering the wisest use of those and other revenues as the 2022 legislative regular session is now underway.

During an appearance on Friday’s broadcast of Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal, State Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark), the chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, said one possibility is an investment into the creation of a so-called rainy day fund for the state’s Medicaid obligation.

“[B]ut I am looking at a bill right now along those same lines, but it is specifically dealing with Medicaid since we’ve had so many problems in the past with Medicaid,” Clouse said. “We’ve got sort of an overage there because of the fortunate emergency funds that we had due to COVID. And Medicaid — I’d like to build a rainy day fund within Medicaid to help us when that fund starts having issues again, and it will.”

“When they lower that amount we received from the feds on the emergency order, that will begin to show in Medicaid, and enrollment goes up, health care costs, as always, going up, we’ll have some adverse effects there,” he continued. “So I’d like to have this fund set up to help us get over some of those bumps.”

Clouse did not dismiss the possibility of expanding Medicaid eligibility in Alabama, along-sought policy from Democrats and the state’s medical lobby. But he explained there were regulatory and fiscal issues that needed to be considered.

“It’s hard to say on Medicaid,” Clouse added. “The rules change so much from the federal government, CMS on Medicaid. There are some good points on Medicaid expansion, particularly for providers, particularly for hospitals that have to take so much uncompensated care when people go to emergency rooms, and they don’t have insurance. But the main thing we have to look at are those recurring costs.”

“Right now, there is from the rescue plan passed several months ago — there is a health care plan where people within the 100-to-138 percent income range, which is basically the Medicaid population, can get a free policy through health insurers, primarily Blue Cross, that will cover their costs. Now that ends at the end of this year. So it’s something that is temporary. But there’s a lot of talk it’s going to be extended to the end of ’24. So we do have an avenue for people that are mainly in that income range. Not all is lost as far as that range. But it is an issue we’re going to have to continue to study as we go down the road and we get into normal times because we’re just not in normal times right now, and we’ll continue to study that issue.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.

MONTGOMERY — A bicameral group of Democrats in the Alabama Legislature has renewed calls for the state to expand the number of citizens it covers via Medicaid, arguing a financial incentive in the federal government’s recent stimulus bill will ease the financial burden of the much-debated proposal.

Senator Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) hosted a press conference urging expansion on Tuesday in the Alabama State House. She was joined by Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro), Senators Billy Beasley (D-Clayton) and Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), and Representatives Adline Clarke (D-Mobile) and Mary Moore (D-Birmingham).

The assembled legislators pointed out that a provision of the federal government’s recent $1.9 trillion stimulus bill would pay for 5% of the state’s annual pre-expansion Medicaid cost for two years, an estimated total of $940 million over two years. However, this incentive only applies if Alabama expands Medicaid.
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