HB557 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rod Scott

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Health, create Health Care Foundation powers and duties, Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Act

Summary

HB557 would place indigent health care responsibilities in each Alabama county, create county boards and funds to pay for care, and establish a statewide fund to support indigent and working-poor health services while protecting Medicaid-eligible patients from collection actions.

What This Bill Does

It designates every county as the local agency for health care transportation, hospital care, and primary health care for indigent residents for a defined period. It creates a County Hospital and County Health Care Board to manage funding, approve providers, file reports, and pay claims; and it establishes a statewide Working Poor and Indigent Fund plus a County Indigent Hospital Claims Fund. It restricts use of funds for Medicaid-eligible services, protects Medicaid-eligible individuals from collections, and sets up subrogation, liens, appeals, and penalties for violations, along with reporting and budgeting requirements.

Who It Affects

• Indigent and working-poor residents of Alabama counties who would receive county-funded health care services and have protections against collection actions if they are Medicaid eligible.
• Hospitals, health care transportation services, and other health care providers that would file claims with county boards, receive payments from designated funds, and comply with reporting, eligibility verification, and potential liens or subrogation.

Key Provisions

• Each county creates a County Hospital and County Health Care Board to handle indigent health care responsibilities for residents in the county.
• Establishes a statewide Working Poor and Indigent Fund and a County Indigent Hospital Claims Fund to pay eligible health care costs not covered by federal Medicaid funds.
• Prohibits payments from funds designated for working poor/indigent care to Medicaid-eligible patients and blocks collection actions against Medicaid-eligible indigent patients.
• Boards annually certify funding needs to county commissions and may levy new local taxes/fees for indigent health care after a public hearing and two-thirds county commission vote.
• Imposes subrogation of claims and creates liens on indigent patients’ estates for fund payments, with priority to in-state acute care claims when funds are limited.
• Requires health care providers to file detailed claims with the county board, including eligibility statements and cost breakdowns, and complies with payment and appeal procedures.
• Provides for sole community provider hospital payment administration, budgeting, and negotiation with counties, ensuring adherence to Medicaid principles and federal transfer rules.
• Requires annual reports on indigent health care funding, eligibility criteria, services provided, and funding sources; requires HIPAA compliance and allows fund audits.
• Authorizes counties to fund the program via local revenue sources, subject to procedures and constitutional exceptions noted in the bill.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health