Panel discusses church role in health care

Community members, health care experts and local pastors recently met at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church to hear from a panel discussing the topic of the church’s role in providing healthcare.

Although the Affordable Care Act provided thousands with health coverage, about 200,000 people statewide fall in an income range that places them in a health care gap. Because individuals must make a salary above the poverty level in order to qualify for a subsidized health plan and must make an income at only around $2,000 to $3,000 per year to qualify for Medicaid, some are left in the middle without a health care plan. 

The panel was made up of Grace Christian Church Pastor Tommy Morgan, M-Power Executive Director Ryan Hankins and head of the Jefferson County Department of Health, Dr. Mark Wilson. Each panelist gave opinions and answered questions on both the realities of the health care system and how churches and nonprofits can assist in providing care to those who fall in the gap.

“Whatever our politics may be and whatever our economic philosophies are, whatever they may advocate, the call of Jesus requires Christians to care for those who are in need,” Morgan said. 

Although the church feels called to help with charity clinics and volunteer medical work, needs of those affected by the health care gap can most likely not be met by volunteer work alone, the panelists said.

“Our organization was run as a volunteer, walk-in clinic,” Hankins said. “It was thought to be an asset for the community if physicians and nurses volunteered their time and provide short-term health care to that small population of adults who had lost their jobs and were in transition and needed what we called ‘episodic health care’ for problems like an ear infection or sore throat.”

M-Power ran into problems, however, when they realized that not only were there a larger number of people needing care than they anticipated, but also that their problems were more serious than an ear infection or sore throat.

“There is a gross misunderstanding of what the church can do and what nonprofits can do in any circumstance, not just in health care,” Hankins said.

Along with the struggle of providing for those already in need of health care, there is a possibility that the need might grow, said Wilson. After the Affordable Care Act passed, the state was allowed an increase in the number of individuals eligible for Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, about $15,000 per year for an individual and $31,000 annually for a family of four. However, the state has not yet expanded the Medicaid program. 

The Jefferson County Health Department estimates that about 300,000 Alabamians would enroll in an expanded Medicaid program if given the opportunity. For those worried about what the expansion might cost the state, Wilson pointed out that the federal government would pay for 100 percent of the expansion cost for the first three years, reducing the amount to 90 percent in 2020 and years after. 

Currently, issues with the state budget are also a factor potentially affecting heath care, Wilson said. Budget cuts could require Medicaid to be cut by as much as 15 percent, which would prevent the program from meeting federal standards.

“If we cut 15 percent, we will be unable to maintain Medicaid as required by the federal government,” Wilson said. “It will go away.”

Those who make a salary under the poverty level would still be unable to qualify for a subsidized health plan, and those who do qualify would most likely be unable to afford the cost of the plans. Along with these setbacks, $12 billion of Alabama tax dollars would go to provide health care in other states.