Alabama Seeks Comment on Plans to Add Medicaid Work Requirement

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/08/eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:408;s:4:"file";s:84:"2018/08/eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-336x214.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:214;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:82:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-600x408.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:408;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-488x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:488;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-416x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:416;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-600x408.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:408;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:84:"eb33b0082ff4003ecd0b470de7444e90fe76e7d61cb7154197f0c4_640_Doctor-Office-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:28:"The file could not be saved.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Source: Pixabay
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1657792004 
1535625409

Alabama wants to require some Medicaid recipients to work if they want healthcare coverage. The public has until Thursday to comment on the plan. The state’s proposal would require “able-bodied” adults to work, take classes, do job training or volunteer to receive Medicaid. Some, such as pregnant women and the disabled, would be exempt.

One analysis showed a Medicaid work requirement in Alabama would most affect mothers, African Americans, and families in rural communities. The Southern Poverty Law Center sent a letter last week to Alabama’s Medicaid Agency opposing the state’s plan. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with the group’s deputy legal director Sam Brooke.

Interview Highlights

Why the SPLC opposes a work requirement:

“Our belief [is] that really this isn’t so much a work requirement as a work paradox because people are going to be forced into an impossible situation. They’re going to either lose coverage because they’re not able to do the work for one reason or another. Or else they’re going to lose coverage under the Medicaid program because they’re going to start working the minimum 20 hours and their income’s going to take them over that $247 a month threshold. And so they’re going to lose Medicaid coverage because they earn too much, but still they will earn too little in order to purchase coverage themselves.”

Why the SPLC sees an extension of Transitional Medical Assistance, which is designed to help those leaving Medicaid rolls, as inadequate:

“We appreciate that change from six to 18 months, but it’s still woefully insufficient. To use an old analogy, it’s still a bridge to nowhere. It’s still a situation where once you get on this path, you’re going to be cut off. It’s just a matter of now it’s going to happen in 18 months instead of six months. Most likely … individuals in this circumstance are not in 18 months going to find themselves in a position where all of the sudden they’re earning enough that they’re going to be able to pay for this themselves or be in a stable enough situation that they’re going to be suddenly getting health insurance from their employer.”

 

WBHM reached out to Alabama’s Medicaid Agency. A spokeswoman says they can’t comment because the public comment period has not closed.

Public comments can be submitted through Thursday, August 30th via email at PublicComment@medicaid.alabama.gov.

 

 

Hungary’s oldest library is fighting to save 100,000 books from a beetle infestation

Restoration workers are removing about 100,000 handbound books from their shelves and carefully placing them in crates, the start of a disinfection process that aims to kill the tiny beetles.

A military exercise drawing together 19 nations and 35,000 forces begins in Australia

The largest-ever war fighting drills in Australia is underway and expected to attract China's attention. Talisman Sabre began in 2005 as a joint exercise between the U.S. and Australia.

Trump marks anniversary of assassination attempt at the FIFA Club World Cup final

The president joined the players on the field after the match to present PSG players with their runner-up medals and hand Chelsea their championship trophy.

Wildfire destroys a historic Grand Canyon lodge and other structures

A park official said the visitor center, the gas station, a waste water treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing were among the 50 to 80 structures lost.

Jannik Sinner wins Wimbledon, Italy’s first singles champion

Italy's Jannik Sinner defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to win his first Wimbledon title. Sinner is the first Italian to win the tournament.

Senate committee details failures by Secret Service in preventing Trump shooting

The Senate Homeland Security Committee said the Secret Service's "lack of structured communication was likely the greatest contributor to the failures" at the Pennsylvania rally last summer.

More Front Page Coverage