AARP Alabama Statement on the 2017 Medicaid Budget Shortfall

It is not an overstatement to say that the 2017 Medicaid budget passed by the Alabama Legislature will hurt frail, low-income seniors who count on critical Medicaid programs for prescription medication, outpatient dialysis and hospice care —and drastically reduce support to family caregivers.

“Alabama is standing at a crossroads right now. The choices our legislators are making will impact the health of all Alabamians in the immediate future. We all have a stake in this issue, whether we are on Medicaid or not,” said Candace Williams, AARP Alabama state director.

Underfunding of Medicaid impacts all Alabamians, because it impacts the health care delivery system throughout our state, whether services are delivered to Medicaid patients, Medicare patients, or the privately insured.

Alabama already faces a shortage of health care providers. Additional cuts to Medicaid will further strain the ability of all Alabamians to receive quality health care in their communities. Indeed, some physicians and other health care providers have already publicly stated that they will be forced to lay off staff or close their practices altogether.

AARP Alabama strongly urges the Legislature and Governor Bentley to commit to finding a long-term solution to Medicaid funding, so that our state’s health care delivery system can meet the needs of all Alabama citizens.

State lawmakers will meet today at 3:30 pm in room 807 at the Alabama Statehouse to discuss Medicaid and what can be done to provide necessary funding for the program. We are urging all AARP Alabama members to contact their legislators today to tell them that “Medicaid Matters to all Alabamians.” You can locate your legislators by going to http://capwiz.com/state-al/home/.