The COVID-19 pandemic will strain Alabama’s health care system in unprecedented ways. Arise’s Jim Carnes discusses how Medicaid expansion, elimination of enrollment barriers and other policy changes would help Medicaid save lives during and after this outbreak.
Category: Blog
Targeted releases should be part of Alabama corrections system’s response to COVID-19 pandemic
State and local governments are responding in a variety of ways to the emergent coronavirus pandemic in Alabama. But that response thus far has fallen short where incarcerated people are concerned.
The Alabama Department of Corrections (DOC) has more than 27,500 people in custody right now. (For context, that’s more people than live in Anniston, Homewood or Northport.) Thousands more sit in county and municipal jails. And the conditions in which most of them live are wretched.
Alabama’s correctional institutions are extremely understaffed and dangerously overcrowded. And even after the U.S. Department of Justice warned the state last year about the system’s shortcomings, some of those problems are getting worse.
Quick, targeted releases would lessen harm and save lives
Temporarily halting visitation, as the DOC is doing, is one step to slowing the spread of infections in Alabama’s corrections system. But reducing the overcrowding in jails and prisons is also vital to limiting COVID-19 deaths. Here are a few ways state and local officials could do that:
- The DOC should expand medical furlough for prisoners. Jails also should release nonviolent offenders. Medical furlough allows prisoners with medical conditions, including diseases that result from aging, to be released to treat those diseases.
- Officials should allow high-risk incarcerated seniors to go home to the greatest extent reasonable under the law. That would reduce the danger of infection and make a pandemic more manageable in prisons. People over age 60 and people with some ailments correlated with aging, like cardiovascular disease, are at greater risk of serious illness if infected.
- Local jails should keep their cells as empty as possible. All incarcerated people with no history of violence and no charges pending for violent crimes should be released without requiring money bail. And people arrested for nonviolent crimes should be released on their own recognizance or with reasonable monitoring conditions. Slowing the coronavirus outbreak is more important than keeping people who aren’t accused of violent crimes locked up. Circuit Judge Ben Fuller’s order last week for jails in Autauga, Chilton and Elmore counties to release anyone with a bond of $5,000 or less was a good step in that direction.
Weak, slow responses would mean worse outbreaks and more deaths
The COVID-19 pandemic layers a public health crisis on top of the state’s prison crisis. And the DOC’s response so far has unfortunately been too timid to stop the rapid spread of the virus if it reaches prisons. Many city and county jails also haven’t laid out detailed policies to address COVID-19.
The DOC has issued a perfunctory statement that it is following CDC recommendations. But the CDC recommendations aren’t focused on jails or prisons. And they don’t address inmate holding practices or recommend circumstances for release. The DOC is attempting to reduce the number of person-to-person contacts by stopping work release and suspending in-person legal visits. But these steps alone are unlikely to do enough to protect people who are in custody or who work at the facilities.
Alabama is running short on time to get this response right. An employee at an unnamed state prison already has tested positive for COVID-19, the DOC announced last week. A widespread outbreak could tear quickly through Alabama’s overcrowded prisons and jails, jeopardizing hundreds or thousands of lives. State and local leaders must take quick, meaningful action right now to reduce the risk of that nightmarish scenario.
Alabama Arise’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Here at Alabama Arise, we share the uncertainty and worry that many of you may feel about COVID-19 and how best to prepare ourselves, help our neighbors and speak out for adequate resources and aid.
Our first priority is the physical and mental health and safety of our members, partners and staff, and of people living in poverty. More than 46% of adults in Alabama are at higher risk of developing serious illness if infected by COVID-19. And we believe dramatic and immediate behavioral changes will be necessary to help protect vulnerable people from infection.
As a result, we are following health experts’ social distancing recommendations. All staff will be working from home for the foreseeable future. We also will cancel travel plans and will conduct meetings via phone or videoconference where possible.
We’ve arranged to answer calls to our office phone number during workdays. For now, though, email is the surest way to reach us. You can find staff members’ email addresses here.
Despite these short-term adjustments, we remain extremely involved in ongoing policy analysis. And we remain committed to advocating, educating and organizing our communities to speak out for what is most needed.
Looking ahead
We are not sure how long these social isolation measures will remain in place. We recognize that most of the people we advocate for and with do not have the luxury of being able to work from home. This crisis will likely have catastrophic impacts on low-wage workers and low-income communities, worsening social and economic inequality.
As we consider how Alabama should respond to this crisis and the longer-term challenges it brings, please let us know how we can help you be a part of the conversation. That may be through timely policy information or analysis, targeted action alerts, remote convenings or other support.
Please take care of yourself, and each other. Thank you for all you do as we continue to work together to improve policies for people in poverty.
Ways to make a difference:
- Ask U.S. Sens. Doug Jones and Richard Shelby to support the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
- Review our list of seven policy recommendations for our state and federal officials to consider immediately. And stay tuned in for additional action alerts in the days and weeks to come.
- Donate to COVID-19 relief funds or volunteer via the United Way of Central Alabama.
What to do if you need help:
- If you have a primary care doctor and think you may have coronavirus, contact your doctor for more information.
- If you don’t have a health care provider or health insurance and think you may need to be tested for coronavirus, call the Alabama Department of Public Health’s hotline at 888-264-2256 for guidance.
- Call 2-1-1 if you require immediate financial assistance.
COVID-19: 7 policy changes that would help protect Alabamians
The World Health Organization has labeled COVID-19 a global pandemic. And state officials announced the first confirmed case of the disease in Alabama on Friday. As the virus strains our health systems, schools and economy, we must ensure the most vulnerable Alabamians have the medical care, social supports and other protections they need to weather the crisis.
The Alabama Legislature will be on spring break for the next two weeks. We hope our state lawmakers and members of Congress will take time to examine the situation developing in their communities. And we hope they will act quickly and courageously to address these critical public health needs.
Here are seven actions that policymakers should take now to protect the well-being and security of all Alabamians:
1. Gov. Kay Ivey should expand Medicaid.
Medicaid expansion would extend health coverage to more than 223,000 uninsured Alabamians with low incomes. It also would ensure coverage for another 120,000 who struggle to afford the insurance they have.
Expansion would take several months to implement, but it would prepare us for the big challenges ahead. In the short term, Medicaid could take numerous other steps to protect families. Examples include streamlining enrollment, covering new mothers for one year after delivery and increasing our “bare-bones” income limit for parents.
Email Gov. Ivey to ask her to expand Medicaid and help address the coronavirus threat. Or if you’d prefer to reach out by phone, click here to call Gov. Ivey’s office.
2. Lawmakers should increase funding for public health to ensure adequate testing, preparation and prevention.
In addition, state and local agencies should take the lead on proactive policies and procedures to protect those who are most vulnerable to this virus. Read State Health Officer Scott Harris’ report to the Senate Health Committee.
3. Congress should authorize emergency food assistance increases.
Boosting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would help children get the food they need while they’re out of school. It also would promote food security for seniors, people who lose their jobs and other people at risk of hunger. Read additional recommendations to address critical food security issues from our partners at the Food Research and Action Center.
4. Policymakers should remove barriers to social support services.
Medicaid, SNAP, WIC and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) save and improve lives. Red-tape barriers to these services make it harder for struggling families to get the help they need during a crisis. Read Arise’s fact sheet to learn why state lawmakers should abandon efforts to reduce access to safety net programs.
5. State lawmakers should remove the state sales tax on groceries while protecting education funding.
As many people prepare for social distancing by purchasing enough food to last for several weeks, the grocery tax imposes the highest tax burden on the people who can least afford it. It’s yet another illustration of why this cruel tax must end. Click here to urge state legislators to untax groceries and replace the revenue by supporting SB 144.
6. Policymakers should look at options to extend paid medical and family leave to every worker.
States including Washington and Massachusetts have created affordable buy-in plans so that even smaller employers can provide extended medical or family leave. Read how paid family and medical leave was made affordable and available to every worker in the state of Washington. Then read more about federal discussions to provide short-term relief for paid leave.
7. Alabama should expand unemployment protections to mitigate the effects of job losses for individuals and communities.
Closures and layoffs in the coming months will leave many workers without essential income. Public officials must act now to reduce the financial toll on people who struggle to make ends meet. Read recommendations from the National Employment Law Project (NELP) about potential improvements to unemployment insurance coverage.
Looking ahead
The conversation about the best policy and social responses will continue to evolve over the coming days and weeks. And additional needs and solutions are likely to emerge. Throughout this crisis and beyond, Arise will continue to speak out for dignity, equity and justice for all Alabamians.
Arise legislative recap: March 13, 2020
We’re excited to introduce you this week to Sherrel Wheeler Stewart, Arise’s new story collection coordinator. In this video, Sherrel talks about her new position and explains how you can help her tell the stories of uninsured and underinsured Alabamians who live in the Medicaid coverage gap.
If you’d like to share your story with Sherrel, email her at sherrel@alarise.org or use this brief online form.
Education, health care, nutrition and more: Why the Census matters to Alabama
The 2020 Census is nearly here. In mid-March, the Census Bureau will begin mailing out informational postcards to all U.S. residents. The postcards will provide instructions on how to complete the Census for your household.
Filling out the Census is important for a number of reasons. Alabama’s count impacts our state legislative districts and our representation in Congress. But it also influences the quality of life in our communities in a whole host of ways.
In 2016, Alabama received more than $13 billion for 55 federal programs based on data from the 2010 Census. Our Census count affected $4.6 billion that year in federal funding for health coverage through Medicaid and ALL Kids. It also shaped another $2.7 billion for education, including special education, student loans, and Title I grants to schools with high shares of students from households with low incomes.
The effects of Alabama’s Census numbers don’t stop there. The Census count guides more than $1.6 billion annually for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meals and other nutrition services. And it affects funding for a range of other services, including affordable housing, child care, transportation and water treatment. The Census has important implications for virtually every aspect of our daily lives.
What you need to know to participate in the Census
Here are a few important things to know regarding the Census:
- Postcards from the U.S. Census Bureau are scheduled to arrive between March 14 and April 1.
- Officials encourage people to fill out the Census online if possible. But you also can complete the survey over the phone or request a paper copy in the mail.
- The Census survey is just 10 questions, and it should only take you about 10 minutes to complete.
- You will not need to provide a Social Security number to take the survey. Just your address will do.
- Your responses are completely confidential. The Census Bureau uses them only for statistical purposes.
- If you have any questions, visit census.gov or call 800-923-8282.
Alabama Arise is putting together informational toolkits for groups to share with folks all across the state. If you want information to share with your community, please email me at mike@alarise.org. Let’s make sure we each take 10 minutes to secure the funding we need for the next 10 years!
Ending an ‘unjust burden’: Alabama Arise testimony in favor of SB 144 to untax groceries
Arise’s Robyn Hyden testified to the Senate’s education budget committee Wednesday in support of SB 144. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, would eliminate Alabama’s state sales tax on groceries and replace the lost revenue by capping the state deduction for federal income taxes. Here’s the full text of Hyden’s prepared remarks:
Good morning! I’m Robyn Hyden, executive director of Alabama Arise. We’re a nonprofit coalition of 155 congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians with low incomes.
For our 31-year history, Alabama Arise members have advocated to remove barriers to opportunity for people who struggle to make ends meet – and ending the grocery tax is at the top of our list of policy goals. Last month, we brought 200 advocates to the State House to ask you all to consider several ways to remove the grocery tax. And we are very pleased to see this bill receive your attention today.
We believe that while the grocery tax is an unjust burden on people who simply need to eat, the flip side is that the federal income tax (FIT) deduction is a giant and unfair tax loophole, allowing people with higher incomes to pay a lower percentage of their overall earnings. Only two other states still allow the full FIT deduction, and only two other states fully tax groceries.
The grocery tax brings in about $480 million a year, while the entire FIT deduction for individuals costs our budget more than $719 million a year. Essentially, we are subsidizing our reliance on this giant tax loophole with a ridiculous tax on food.
How to end the state grocery tax responsibly
We shouldn’t continue to subsidize an unfair tax loophole with an unjust grocery tax. We support Sen. Jones’ proposal because it would end this unfair tax shift by capping the total FIT deduction allowed. This would allow working families who pay federal income taxes to still benefit from the deduction, but also would prevent the Education Trust Fund from losing revenue.
Our modeling of the impact of SB 144, completed by the Institute on Taxation and Education Policy, shows that this bill would generate a conservative estimate of an additional $474 million a year to the ETF. That’s almost an even swap for grocery tax revenue that would be returned to taxpayers.
If you look at the chart I’ve shared with you, the blue and green bar graph shows the impact of both removing the grocery tax and capping the FIT deduction on the average household at each income level. Notice that for the bottom 95% of taxpayers, the combination of removing the grocery tax and ending the FIT deduction produces a net tax cut.
For lower- and middle-income families, it’s quite a significant cut. It’s only for households making well above $135,000 a year that any type of significant net increase is going to happen. When you consider that the median household income in our state is just $48,123, what we’re looking at here is effectively the biggest tax cut affecting the most people that you’re ever going to get a chance to vote on.
I thank you for your time today. And I urge you to consider this proposal to bring tax relief to hard-working families and bring more fairness to our tax code.
Arise legislative recap: March 6, 2020
Arise’s Jim Carnes discusses how the coronavirus outbreak and the closure of Pickens County Medical Center showcase Alabama’s need for Medicaid expansion. Also, in the wake of the recent execution of Nathaniel Woods, Jim talks about HB 359, which would forbid the death penalty in capital cases where the jury does not agree unanimously to impose it.
Arise legislative recap: Feb. 28, 2020
Arise members showed up in force in Montgomery on Tuesday for our annual Legislative Day! Arise’s Chris Sanders gives a brief recap of the event and introduces a replay of our news conference on untaxing groceries. (Please note: The news conference footage was streamed from a cell phone and includes a few moments of adjustment.)
Arise legislative recap: Feb. 25, 2020
Today, Feb. 25, is our annual Legislative Day, and we’re excited to continue our efforts to untax groceries. Arise’s Carol Gundlach talks about steps you can take to contact your lawmakers on this issue if you can’t be there in person.