Medicaid recipients bracing for change in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in the U.S. House would change the way some Medicaid recipients qualify for federal assistance.

While some are warning about the impact it could have on about a million Alabamians, others said the changes are necessary.

“That mom that’s working hard, even as a waitress, not every job is a guaranteed number of hours,” said Rhonda Mann, executive director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children.

Some Medicaid recipients would have to work 80 hours a month to qualify for federal assistance, according to Mann. She said it can be hard for single mothers and some families.

“If we want to help people get off of these safety net programs, I would urge Congress to look at what we are requiring them to do now,” Mann said. “How it penalizes them often.”

Alabama’s congressional delegation disagreed on how new work requirements could impact Medicaid recipients.

“I feel like the people who need it will be able to keep it,” said Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt. “Obviously, if someone trying to game the system … then, I think there’s some problems with that.”

“I think it’s a misnomer to assume that people want to sit at home and not work,” said U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat. “… this is not the way to go about getting more people employed by kicking them off of Medicaid.”

State Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, said more hospitals will close and healthcare premiums will go up.

“[Hospitals will] have to compensate for that and for the fact that these Medicaid patients are not receiving the care or the compensation or the providers that they need,” Rafferty said.

But state Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, said the requirements are necessary.

“We just feel like it may be time to really look at our Medicaid programs and services overall and make sure that we don’t have people impacting our system that could hurt those that really need the Medicaid services,” Reynolds said.

If the bill passes in the House, it will head to Trump’s desk for a signature. If changes are made, Aderholt said it could get sent to a conference committee.