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Doctors with the Medical Association of the State of Alabama are celebrating passage of a bill that would expedite Medicaid coverage and prenatal healthcare for low-income pregnant women.
Earlier this year, the Medical Association endorsed the bill led by a bipartisan group of legislators and spearheaded by Rep. Marilyn Lands and Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, which is headed to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk to become the state’s newest law.
The “presumptive eligibility” legislation allows Medicaid to pay for a pregnant woman’s outpatient medical care for up to 60 days while her application for Medicaid is being considered. Alabama is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid, which means many low-income women are only eligible for Medicaid once they become pregnant.
“This new law will remove barriers to care and ensure more Alabama moms and babies get the medical support they need,” said Dr. Amanda Williams, president of the Medical Association. “This is a step toward improving the overall health environment in Alabama. That’s especially good for patients but it is also important to doctors. We have a severe physician shortage in Alabama, and our shrinking number of physicians-to-patients increases physician burnout and negatively affects health outcomes. Every time we make a needed change like this one to make our state healthier, we also make it easier to recruit and retain doctors here.”
Dr. Williams added, “Physicians across the state thank Rep. Marilyn Lands, Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison and the bipartisan co-sponsors of the bill for their leadership in making Alabama a better and healthier state.”
Rep. Lands said, “This truly bipartisan effort will allow women to access critical prenatal care earlier in their pregnancies. I look forward to working with my colleagues to develop additional legislation that will improve maternal outcomes.”
The bill’s sponsor in the Senate, Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, said, “I think this legislation is a game changer in helping pregnant women give birth to healthy babies. Alabama still ranks low in childbirths. A lot has to do with receiving adequate care early during pregnancy. The majority of maternal deaths are preventable. This legislation of ‘presumptive eligibility’ makes the health and welfare of the mother and unborn a priority and will save lives.”
One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Rep. Susan DuBose, said, “This is a strong pro-life bill that ensures expecting mothers have access to the care they need to bring healthy babies into the world. By expanding prenatal coverage, we are giving more Alabama moms and their babies a stronger, healthier start in life.”
The Medical Association of the State of Alabama has led efforts to improve access and healthcare outcomes for pregnant women and babies, particularly through the “Save Alabama Moms” campaign that continues to support funding for research into the state’s high maternal mortality rate.
According to a report released in 2023, Alabama had the highest rates of maternal mortality among southern states.
