Healthcare Policy
LWVAL Action Priority Level II - Monitoring occurs; action dependent on opportunity and available resources.Click a bill to see sponsor(s), synopsis, link to the bill, League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative process.
Legend:
= LWVAL's support for the legislation. 
= LWVAL's opposition to the legislation.
= new bill activity; change from previous week's report such as new progress in the legislature and/or League action. Bill may be one newly added to the report. These updates are in green font.Contact information for legislators and committees referenced in the bills below:
Representatives Standing House Committees Senators Standing Senate Committees Find my legislators
LWVAL has taken a position on these bills:
HB20 - Physician Initiative, phase in provision of 100 scholarships per year, scholarships for students who commit to practice family medicine in underserved areas of state, AL. Medical Education Consortium to administer, Dept. of Public Health to fund
Sponsor(s): Representative McMillan
Synopsis and Analysis : This bill establishes the Alabama physician initiative It provides scholarships for certain medical students enrolled in & attending any college of medicine in Alabama and who contract with the Alabama Medical Education Consortium to practice for five years after the completion of their residency in rural areas of the state with the greatest need for physicians with funds allocated through the Alabama Dept of Public Health
This bill is similar to bills that LWVAL supported last year aimed at recruiting health professionals to serve in rural areas of the state.
League Action and Justification: Support. LWVAL believes that the state must allocate medical resources to underserved areas of the state.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME).
Synopsis and Analysis : This bill establishes the Alabama physician initiative It provides scholarships for certain medical students enrolled in & attending any college of medicine in Alabama and who contract with the Alabama Medical Education Consortium to practice for five years after the completion of their residency in rural areas of the state with the greatest need for physicians with funds allocated through the Alabama Dept of Public Health
This bill is similar to bills that LWVAL supported last year aimed at recruiting health professionals to serve in rural areas of the state.
League Action and Justification: Support. LWVAL believes that the state must allocate medical resources to underserved areas of the state.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education (W&ME).
HB37 - Injection-Associated infectious disease elimination, pilot programs by Dept. of Public Health and local health authorities authorized, limited criminal immunity granted
Sponsor(s): Representative Jack Williams
Synopsis and Analysis : This bill would establish the Alabama Injection-Associated Infectious Disease Elimination Act.
This bill would authorize the Department of Public Health and local health authorities to establish injection-associated infectious disease elimination pilot programs in certain counties.
This bill would provide guidelines for injection-associated infectious disease elimination pilot programs.
This bill would also provide criminal and civil immunity to certain individuals and entities to facilitate and encourage participation in infectious disease elimination programs.
This bill was introduced in the House last year by Rep Williams (HB 455). It passed the House but died in the Senate. The LWV supported this bill last year. Note this bill addresses the consequences of opioid abuse including HIV, Hepatitis B & C, sexually transmitted diseases and other high risk behaviors. It will operate in counties designated by the Dept. of Public Health.
League Action and Justification: Support.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Health (HLTH).
03/15/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar; Pending third reading on day 21; Favorable from Health
Synopsis and Analysis : This bill would establish the Alabama Injection-Associated Infectious Disease Elimination Act.
This bill would authorize the Department of Public Health and local health authorities to establish injection-associated infectious disease elimination pilot programs in certain counties.
This bill would provide guidelines for injection-associated infectious disease elimination pilot programs.
This bill would also provide criminal and civil immunity to certain individuals and entities to facilitate and encourage participation in infectious disease elimination programs.
This bill was introduced in the House last year by Rep Williams (HB 455). It passed the House but died in the Senate. The LWV supported this bill last year. Note this bill addresses the consequences of opioid abuse including HIV, Hepatitis B & C, sexually transmitted diseases and other high risk behaviors. It will operate in counties designated by the Dept. of Public Health.
League Action and Justification: Support.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Health (HLTH).
03/15/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar; Pending third reading on day 21; Favorable from Health
HB52 - Abortion, require abortion providers to provide certain information to women seeking an abortion, and to require refunds if the abortion is cancelled, Secs. 26-23A-4, 26-23A-10 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representative Rich
Synopsis and Analysis : Requires provider to refund fees if an abortion is cancelled. Requires abortion providers to inform women of their right to withdraw consent before the procedure and requires providers to refund fees paid. Provides for civil penalties for failure. Bill specifies language and size of type for written notices along with prescribing additional requirements providers are to follow.
League Action and Justification: Oppose. LWVUS affirms the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Health (HLTH)
02/08/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar with 1 substitute; Pending third reading on day 11; Favorable from Health with 1 substitute; Health first Substitute Offered (190191-5)
Synopsis and Analysis : Requires provider to refund fees if an abortion is cancelled. Requires abortion providers to inform women of their right to withdraw consent before the procedure and requires providers to refund fees paid. Provides for civil penalties for failure. Bill specifies language and size of type for written notices along with prescribing additional requirements providers are to follow.
League Action and Justification: Oppose. LWVUS affirms the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Health (HLTH)
02/08/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar with 1 substitute; Pending third reading on day 11; Favorable from Health with 1 substitute; Health first Substitute Offered (190191-5)
HB63 - Nursing, Board of, loan repayment program for advanced-practice nurses, loan program authorized for certain currently certified nurses, Sec. 34-21-96 am'd.
Sponsor(s): Representative Weaver
Synopsis and Analysis : Authorizes the Board of Nursing to award advance practice nurse loans to those nurse who have recently completed a graduate degree program and immediately begin to practice in a medically underserved area of the state.
League Action and Justification: Support. LWVAL supports legislation which improves access to healthcare in underserved areas. This bill would improve access by recruiting and retaining healthcare providers in rural areas of the State.
Note: Bill is similar to HB255 in 2017 Session which was indefinitely postponed.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Health (HLTH)
01/25/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar; Pending third reading on day 7; Favorable from Health
Synopsis and Analysis : Authorizes the Board of Nursing to award advance practice nurse loans to those nurse who have recently completed a graduate degree program and immediately begin to practice in a medically underserved area of the state.
League Action and Justification: Support. LWVAL supports legislation which improves access to healthcare in underserved areas. This bill would improve access by recruiting and retaining healthcare providers in rural areas of the State.
Note: Bill is similar to HB255 in 2017 Session which was indefinitely postponed.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/09/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Health (HLTH)
01/25/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar; Pending third reading on day 7; Favorable from Health
HB331/SB140 - Medicaid, eligibility verification requirements required, referral of fraud for prosecution, agency required to implement work requirements, exceptions
Sponsor(s):
HB331 - Representative Mooney
SB140 - Senators Orr, Holtzclaw, Williams, Livingston, Bussman, Stutts, Albritton, Hightower, Scofield and Reed
Synopsis and Analysis: This bill would require the Alabama Medicaid Agency to use certain eligibility verification measures to eliminate the duplication of assistance and deter waste, fraud, and abuse of benefits and would allow the agency to contract with a third-party vendor under certain conditions The bill would also establish work requirements for eligibility to participate in Medicaid, would provide exceptions to the work requirements and would authorize the agency to submit a state plan amendment or waiver necessary to implement the work requirements.
HB331/SB140 is basically the same as SB195 introduced in 2017 by Arthur Orr which was indefinitely postponed last session.
This bill is in line with the recent CMS guidance statement issued to State Medicaid Directors imposing work requirements as a condition of eligibility In Alabama there will be very few Medicaid beneficiaries who will fall under this requirement because Alabama did not expand Medicaid under ACA In Alabama, with very rare exceptions, adults covered by Medicaid are exempt because they are pregnant women, elderly or disabled. The one exception is the few adults eligible for what is known as POCR (estimated 75K adults receive public assistance for dependent child or children these people are already under a work requirement through DHR). States that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA will cover an expanded adult population that falls under the work directive but the professional consensus is that the majority of these beneficiaries are already working full time or part time.
The rest of the bill relates to expanded points of eligibility verification that must be covered before an applicant is approved. Imposing complex documentation & adding another layer of administration makes the Medicaid program more costly and will be detrimental to beneficiaries There is no evidence to support the contention that work requirements will improve a beneficiary’s health Moreover the whole point of CHIP & SOBRA Medicaid for women & children was to streamline enrollment & remove barriers in order for these populations to secure needed health services ACA had a similar objective .
League Action and Justification: Oppose. The League believes that efficient and economical delivery of quality care should be enhanced by cost control methods and not complicated by needless administrative requirements.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB331
01/30/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government (SG)
SB140
01/11/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development (FR&ED)
01/25/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar with 1 substitute (190465-2); Pending third reading on day 7; Favorable from FR&ED with 1 substitute.
02/27/2018 - Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; Marsh motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted Voice Vote
03/06/2018 - Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; 190465-2 FR&ED Substitute Offered; 192693-1 Orr Amendment Offered; Orr motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted; Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; Orr motion to Adopt adopted; 192693-1 Orr Amendment Offered; Orr motion to Adopt adopted; Orr motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted
03/08/2018 - Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; Orr motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted Voice Vote; Further Consideration; 190465-2 Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development first Substitute Offered
HB331 - Representative Mooney
SB140 - Senators Orr, Holtzclaw, Williams, Livingston, Bussman, Stutts, Albritton, Hightower, Scofield and Reed
Synopsis and Analysis: This bill would require the Alabama Medicaid Agency to use certain eligibility verification measures to eliminate the duplication of assistance and deter waste, fraud, and abuse of benefits and would allow the agency to contract with a third-party vendor under certain conditions The bill would also establish work requirements for eligibility to participate in Medicaid, would provide exceptions to the work requirements and would authorize the agency to submit a state plan amendment or waiver necessary to implement the work requirements.
HB331/SB140 is basically the same as SB195 introduced in 2017 by Arthur Orr which was indefinitely postponed last session.
This bill is in line with the recent CMS guidance statement issued to State Medicaid Directors imposing work requirements as a condition of eligibility In Alabama there will be very few Medicaid beneficiaries who will fall under this requirement because Alabama did not expand Medicaid under ACA In Alabama, with very rare exceptions, adults covered by Medicaid are exempt because they are pregnant women, elderly or disabled. The one exception is the few adults eligible for what is known as POCR (estimated 75K adults receive public assistance for dependent child or children these people are already under a work requirement through DHR). States that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA will cover an expanded adult population that falls under the work directive but the professional consensus is that the majority of these beneficiaries are already working full time or part time.
The rest of the bill relates to expanded points of eligibility verification that must be covered before an applicant is approved. Imposing complex documentation & adding another layer of administration makes the Medicaid program more costly and will be detrimental to beneficiaries There is no evidence to support the contention that work requirements will improve a beneficiary’s health Moreover the whole point of CHIP & SOBRA Medicaid for women & children was to streamline enrollment & remove barriers in order for these populations to secure needed health services ACA had a similar objective .
League Action and Justification: Oppose. The League believes that efficient and economical delivery of quality care should be enhanced by cost control methods and not complicated by needless administrative requirements.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
HB331
01/30/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government (SG)
SB140
01/11/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development (FR&ED)
01/25/2018 - Read for the second time and placed on the calendar with 1 substitute (190465-2); Pending third reading on day 7; Favorable from FR&ED with 1 substitute.
02/27/2018 - Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; Marsh motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted Voice Vote
03/06/2018 - Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; 190465-2 FR&ED Substitute Offered; 192693-1 Orr Amendment Offered; Orr motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted; Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; Orr motion to Adopt adopted; 192693-1 Orr Amendment Offered; Orr motion to Adopt adopted; Orr motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted
03/08/2018 - Third Reading Carried Over to Call of the Chair; Orr motion to Carry Over to the Call of the Chair adopted Voice Vote; Further Consideration; 190465-2 Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development first Substitute Offered
SB210 - Physician Initiative, phase in provision of 100 scholarships per year, scholarships for students who commit to practice family medicine in underserved areas of state, AL. Medical Education Consortium to administer, Dept. of Public Health to fund
Sponsor(s): Senator Stutts
Synopsis and Analysis: Establishes the Alabama Physician Initiative Would provide scholarships for certain medical students who are enrolled in and attending any college of medicine in Alabama and who contract with the Alabama Medical Education Consortium to practice for five years after the completion of their residency in rural areas of the state with the greatest need for physicians with funds allocated through the State Dept of Public Health.
League Action and Justification: Support. LWVAL supports legislation which improves access to healthcare in underserved areas. This bill would improve access by recruiting and retaining healthcare providers in rural areas of the State.
Note: LWVAL supported this bill for the 2017 Session (SB 335). SB 335 passed the Senate but did not receive a floor vote in the House last year.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/23/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund (F&TG).
02/01/2018 - Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE).
Synopsis and Analysis: Establishes the Alabama Physician Initiative Would provide scholarships for certain medical students who are enrolled in and attending any college of medicine in Alabama and who contract with the Alabama Medical Education Consortium to practice for five years after the completion of their residency in rural areas of the state with the greatest need for physicians with funds allocated through the State Dept of Public Health.
League Action and Justification: Support. LWVAL supports legislation which improves access to healthcare in underserved areas. This bill would improve access by recruiting and retaining healthcare providers in rural areas of the State.
Note: LWVAL supported this bill for the 2017 Session (SB 335). SB 335 passed the Senate but did not receive a floor vote in the House last year.
Bill Progress in Legislature:
01/23/2018 - Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund (F&TG).
02/01/2018 - Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education (F&TE).
LWVAL is monitoring these bills:
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