Revisiting Medicaid expansion in Alabama

Influential Birmingham leaders would like to see the state expand its Medicaid program, but they aren’t optimistic it will happen.

That’s the biggest takeaway from the latest Power Poll Birmingham, which is a monthly poll of local leaders.

Nine out of 10 respondents in the poll said the state should expand Medicaid, which multiple studies have shown would have several positive effects on the state and would largely pay for itself.

The bulk of Power Poll respondents (79%) believe politics are the primary reason the state hasn’t expanded Medicaid to this point. Medicaid expansion was a cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act under the Obama administration. Even so, many other conservative states have expanded Medicaid.

While many lawmakers and other Alabama officials have said cost is the reason they oppose expansion, only 12% of respondents said they believe that’s the true reason.

And, despite overwhelming support for expansion in the Power Poll, only 38% feel confident the state will expand Medicaid in the next three years.

Influential Birmingham leaders would like to see the state expand its Medicaid program, but they aren’t optimistic it will happen.

Nine out of 10 respondents in the poll said the state should expand Medicaid, which multiple studies have shown would have several positive effects on the state and would largely pay for itself.