Lawmakers to Hold Hearings on State’s Medicaid Program

Alabama lawmakers will hold hearings this week on the state’s Medicaid program.

The House and Senate general fund budget committee have scheduled a joint meeting Wednesday to discuss funding for the health care program that covers approximately a million Alabamians.

House Speaker Mike Hubbard said last week that lawmakers plan to question Medicaid officials about the agency’s finances and costs.

Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar has said the program will have to make reductions without additional funds.

Lawmakers earlier this year overrode Gov. Robert Bentley’s veto to enact a budget that will steer $700 million to Medicaid next fiscal year. Bentley says $785 million is needed to maintain services in the program.

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