SJR 41 Summary

• Urges the Governor of Alabama to immediately expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to enhance health care access, promote economic activity, and create jobs in the state.

• Cites health disparities in Alabama including 20 percent higher emergency room usage than national average, 12+ percent diabetes rate, third-highest heart disease mortality rate (228.4 per 100,000), and second-highest infant mortality rate (8.8 per 1,000 live births).

• Projects Medicaid expansion would cover approximately 300,000 additional Alabamians, generate $20-28 billion in economic activity through 2020, create approximately 30,000 new jobs, and increase tax revenues by $925 million.

• Notes federal government funds 100 percent of expansion costs until 2017, decreasing to 90 percent by 2020, and that Alabama has already lost approximately $2.25 billion in federal funds as of April 2015 by not expanding Medicaid.

• Directs that a copy of the resolution be sent to Governor Robert Bentley.