Here are six highlights:
1. The $841 million the agency seeks is a $156 million increase from the current year.
2. Lawmakers at the budget hearings asked what the state can do to control costs and eliminate fraud and waste in the program.
3. During the hearings, Sen. Arthur Orr asked Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar if the state can find ways to increase the personal responsibility of those in the program.
4. In response to Sen. Orr’s suggestion, Ms. Azar said the government sets the regulations and said, “There is very little we can do. (Recipients are) entitled to the program.”
5. Rep. Ken Johnson, vice chairman of the House General Fund budget committee, said policy makers are frustrated by federal rules such as a law that prohibits the state from requiring a co-pay on Medicaid services.
6. Medicaid is the largest part of Alabama’s $1.7 billion General Fund budget.
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