Alabama’s refusal to expand Medicaid eligibility to 235,000 uninsured, low-income residents is hindering the state’s economic development efforts. No matter where you stand on this issue, not taking advantage of the Medicaid expansion option was and remains an irresponsible decision for our state. Without adequate funding, about 15 rural hospitals across the state have already shuttered their doors and a dozen more could potentially shut down. Emergency room care is the most expensive form of care, and about 75 percent of emergency room patients in Alabama are uninsured and they tend to enter the system at a more advanced and costly stage of illness. Medicaid expansion would help to lower these costs by covering more preventive care. Not only do our citizens in the coverage gap need the insurance, but our economy needs the potential 30,000 jobs and millions in related revenue that would result. We need to be innovative in determining ways to cover our 10% matching investment, but as long as the expansion option is available, we should take it.