Expanding Medicaid in the state has been a hot topic, with House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter hinting at a possible hybrid version.

His plan is a public-private partnership that leverages Medicaid expansion funds.

“I have always opposed Medicaid expansion,” Ledbetter told the Capitol Journal. “I don't think it benefits us. Public and private are different because about half of the people who are already insured are actually insured when they should be commercially insured. This is because they are not exempted.”

Ledbetter said Congress is looking for examples from other states on how to move forward on the issue.

“Arkansas has a program very similar to this, and there are other places that have it,” Ledbetter said. “I think it certainly doesn't hurt to look at how successful they've been and how it's affected them.”

He also revealed his main concerns about possible changes.

“Of course, the biggest thing for me is expansion. I was in government before I was a small-town mayor. I've seen federal programs come and go,” Ledbetter said. said. “It's fine when they're there and they're paying the money, but after they leave you have to pick up the dollars and that's not always easy. That's my biggest concern about Medicaid expansion. Ta.”

But Ledbetter said he was open to discussing the matter.

“I think we need to have a dialogue. That's the position we're in and that's what we were elected to have a dialogue about,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

One proposed plan would expand health care by allowing Alabamians with annual incomes of up to $20,783 to qualify for full Medicaid benefits through private insurers, which would be subsidized with federal funds. will receive.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer at Yellowhammer News.