HB211 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Medicaid, inmates in county jails and under juvenile court, Medicaid eligibility suspended, not terminated, temporary reinstatement for medical care, payment of court

Summary

HB211 adds a Medicaid suspension-for-county inmates and juveniles with temporary reinstatement for inpatient care beyond 24 hours, plus counties must reimburse state match and implement a centralized information process.

What This Bill Does

The bill extends the existing rule for state inmates to county inmates in county jails and juveniles under juvenile court jurisdiction, suspending Medicaid eligibility while they are in custody or under juvenile court care (as long as they remain eligible). If an eligible inmate or juvenile receives inpatient care in a medical facility for more than 24 hours, their Medicaid eligibility would be temporarily reinstated for that care. Counties must reimburse the Medicaid Agency for the full federally required state match for those inpatient services, and a centralized process must be developed to share necessary information between the Medicaid Agency and each county.

Who It Affects

• County inmates in county jails: Medicaid eligibility suspended while in custody, with temporary reinstatement if they receive inpatient care longer than 24 hours; counties must reimburse the state match for such inpatient care.
• Juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court (for whom the county is responsible for medical costs): Medicaid eligibility suspended while under jurisdiction, with temporary reinstatement if they receive inpatient care longer than 24 hours; counties must reimburse the state match for such inpatient care.
• Counties and county commissions: responsible for reimbursing the Medicaid Agency for the state match and for implementing the centralized information-distribution process with the Medicaid Agency.
• Medicaid Agency: administers the eligibility suspensions/reinstatements and coordinates with counties through the centralized process; receives reimbursements for state match.

Key Provisions

• Suspension, not termination, of Medicaid eligibility for county inmates in custody and juveniles under juvenile court jurisdiction who are otherwise eligible.
• Temporary reinstatement of Medicaid eligibility for inpatient care lasting more than 24 hours.
• Counties must reimburse the Medicaid Agency for the full amount of the federally required state match for inpatient services provided during temporary reinstatement.
• Development and implementation of a centralized process for information sharing between the Medicaid Agency and each county, including (1) identifying eligible individuals at custody, (2) notifying the Medicaid Agency when temporary reinstatement is triggered by inpatient care, (3) handling reimbursement for the state match, and (4) notifying when custody or jurisdiction ends.
• operative dates: central process due by October 1, 2017; act operative January 1, 2018; immediate effect upon passage for certain provisions.

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

Subjects

Counties