The 30-member task force approved the recommendation without opposition.
Although Gov. Bentley has opposed Medicaid expansion, he said in November that his administration was “looking” at the possibility of expanding it in Alabama.
While the recommendation document does not explicitly propose Medicaid expansion, a two-page paper attached to it outlines additional benefits expanding Medicaid would yield. Some task force members — like Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) — believe expansion is necessary for Alabamans in rural areas.
However, Sen. Dial also pointed out the cost of expansion. Because Alabama would have to pay 5 percent of the expanded coverage cost in 2018 and 10 percent in 2020, Sen. Dial said he expects Alabama will need an additional $400 million to $700 million over the coming years.
Still, the two-page attachment mentioned a 2015 brief by the UAB School of Public Health, which said expanding Medicaid would provide new revenues to healthcare providers that could result in $1.2 billion in new income each year.
So far, thirty states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid.
More articles on payer issues:
Health insurers in the news: Dec. 10-17
BCBS of Western NY, Catholic Health settle dispute, renew agreement
Health insurers mine patient data to improve health, save money
