Medicaid expansion in Alabama: Stop the bleeding! ~ Echo opinion

Two Birmingham AL legislators call for action to provide access to health care coverage.  An echo opinion originally published in Alabama.com (Al.com) ~ Birmingham lawmakers wrote:

By Alabama Representative Mary Moore & Representative Rolanda Hollis, who each represent the Birmingham area in the Alabama legislature.

Today, more than ever, Alabamians face an uncertain landscape when it comes to access to affordable, quality health care. 

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has the power to help Alabamians to have access to the Medicaid expansion

This uncertainty causes a great deal of distress for all Alabamians dealing both with their own health issues and those of loved ones. It's also a major issue for us as a state because it has a tremendous financial impact on our citizens and stands in the way of having a healthy workforce.

This is why we are joining our voices and efforts together through the introduction of a resolution urging Governor Kay Ivey to expand Medicaid.

In expanding Medicaid, Governor Ivey has the power to help ensure access to quality healthcare for many Alabamians, particularly, children, seniors and those in our rural communities that rely on the infrastructure that the program provides.

We have seen - and continue to see - the enormous negative impact NOT expanding Medicaid has already had on our state.

It's time to stop the bleeding.

It's time to shore up our rural hospitals and rural healthcare providers instead of contributing to the further decimation of these communities that are so important to our state and the isolation of their residents.

It's time to strengthen this program and others that are so vital to so many of our most vulnerable citizens - from young children to our seniors.

We are also encouraging a thorough review of any and all state-funded mental health services to ensure that such appropriations are spent wisely and provide first-rate care.

We have both a moral and a legal responsibility to provide quality mental health treatment options for Alabamians suffering from mental illness. These struggles touch every part of our citizenry - from our young to old, students to new mothers, to returning veterans.

Failure to meet that commitment with effective programs and adequate funding levels has already led to increased costs in emergency care and incarceration, not to mention the human cost in countless lives devastated and families disrupted. We cannot allow this to continue.

We must support a mental health care delivery system based on evidence-based practices and which is accessible to all citizens, family caregivers, law enforcement personnel, and healthcare providers. Those suffering with these issues, their families and the state deserve nothing less.

We sincerely hope Governor Ivey will take this plea to heart and our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will as well.Together, we can truly make an enormous difference in the lives of so many Alabamians by putting political rhetoric aside and doing what is right.