A friend mentioned to me recently that an out of state visitor saw our Alabama state motto, WE DARE TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS on a sign and asked if it had been put there as a prank. No, he was told, that is really our motto. If you have lived here for a long time, you understand that we resist when others challenge us, no matter how well intentioned. Determination can help us in life, but it can work against you as life changes. I’d like to add another one: WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.

Two friends and I recently worked on a project to pay off Medical debts for over 5000 people here in the state of Alabama. It was gratifying to be part of that. We were covered by some national media, even Yahoo news and the Alaska times! But the problem of health coverage in our state remains and new debts will begin to come.

The number of states, who now have not expanded Medicaid to cover all of their citizens are now less than ten. I have been encouraged by many positive steps that are governor and legislature have taken in the last few years, particularly toward care for young children, strengthening education, improving access to Wi-Fi, and growing economically. Now, as the legislature is in session and considering large steps toward funding education more robustly, we also have an opportunity to build a healthy future by giving access to health insurance and coverage to all our citizens.

Conversations are happening among leaders. Governor Ivey is working hard to leave a good legacy in our state. Now may be our time. Why does this matter? I have lived in Alabama for 30 years now. after a 41-year career as a Baptist preacher, I retired here and continue to try to contribute for the good of the place where I live and that has been so good to me. Many years ago, I was a pastor in a Southwest Georgia small town. I remember that the school and the hospital may not have mattered much to the people in Atlanta, but it was the lifeblood of our community there. Keeping those hospitals, afloat and getting people from the emergency room into primary care was crucial to keep our community alive and improve the health of our community.

Medicaid is not just about people who are out of work. It is about working people who have no other options and can be bankrupted by a single medical bill that they cannot pay. In the Medical debt project that we recently completed, the average debt was less than $800 per person. For some people that might as well be a hundred thousand dollars.

This is the right time for our legislature to get our state in the game. The money has already been allocated for Alabama if we take it. North Carolina, Louisiana, and Arkansas have already taken steps to expand coverage. Mississippi, and others are having these same conversations. It will not be a magic bullet to fix every problem, but it will be one giant step in the right direction. Healthy babies become healthy children who do well in school, graduate, and become productive citizens.

Leaders must step up. But leaders can also only do what their citizens will support. It’s time to speak up; let our state take steps to lift the lives of tens of thousands of our neighbors. Let’s tweak our state motto for this purpose to say, WE DARE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. All that is needed is to ask, “What will benefit our small towns, healthcare systems, doctors, patients and working people here in our state?”

Dr. Gary Furr is Pastor Emeritus of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. He retired in 2021 after twenty-seven years there. He is the founder and President of the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children and lives in the Birmingham area.