AARP Alabama statement on passage of FY 2017 General Fund budget

 

 

 

 

The 2017 General Fund budget passed by the Alabama Legislature today will have a devastating impact on Alabama's health care delivery system. In overriding Governor’s Bentley’s veto of the budget, the Legislature has ensured that the state’s Medicaid program will be underfunded in fiscal year 2017 by at least $85 million. This 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. We strongly urge 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.