County Commission | The Magazine August 2017 | Page 28

NEWS YOU CAN USE
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County leaders this year successfully advocated for these
ACCA Legislative Priorities, each one an “action item”
from the Alabama County Platform. Once again, these
new protections and enhancements of county government
would not exist without the combined efforts of 67 counties
speaking with One Voice.
MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR INMATES
England Ward Pittman
Scott Wood Hurst
Act 2017-298 by Rep. England and Sen. Ward
Currently, inmates that enter county jails or juvenile
detention facilities forfeit their Medicaid eligibility under the
law. This ACCA Priority Bill provides that persons who enter
county custody as Medicaid participants will have their
benefits automatically reinstated when treated for medical
or other eligible programs at in-patient facilities. The inmate
must be in the Medicaid care facility at least 24 hours before
the benefits are restored. Counties wishing to participate
in the program will have some reporting requirements and
will be responsible for paying the state match, which is
approximately 30 percent of the Medicaid rate. Details will
be provided on the implementation of this act during the
ACCA convention in August. The act was effective May 16,
2017, but the benefits will not begin until Jan. 1, 2018.
The Association is grateful to Rep. Chris England and
Sen. Cam Ward for their leadership and sponsorship of
this important new law that can save revenue and provide
needed benefits to inmates and juveniles statewide.
SIMPLIFIED SELLERS USE TAX
Beasley
Blackshear
28 | COUNTY COMMISSION
Waggoner
Act 2017-82 by Sen. Pittman and Rep. Scott
This ACCA priority legislation made several technical
changes to the successful Simplified Sellers Use Tax
Remittance program, including adding provisions that