Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Passes Stricter Eligibility Bills for Medicaid and SNAP
Last week, two bills aimed at enforcing eligibility for Medicaid and food stamps in Alabama passed out of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. Sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, the bills are causing controversy among low-income and child advocacy groups.
Senate Bill 245 focuses on Medicaid eligibility and would require verification of an applicant’s eligibility before granting coverage. This bill would also mandate regular cross-checking with state and federal databases to prevent fraud and noncompliance. Advocates worry this could negatively impact rural hospitals and children enrolled in Medicaid.
Senate Bill 246 targets eligibility for SNAP, seeking to eliminate the Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility policy that expands access to food assistance. By strictly adhering to the state’s own eligibility criteria, the bill could potentially result in many Alabamians losing SNAP benefits, costing the state federal dollars.
Advocates argue that imposing stricter eligibility requirements on both Medicaid and SNAP would harm Alabama’s most vulnerable populations and potentially cause chaos in the state’s healthcare system. Despite concerns raised by advocacy groups, both bills passed out of the committee in partisan votes and will now head to the full Senate for further consideration.
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