October 2019 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
Governor Ivey has been busy this month: helping Alabama hospitals while also undergoing treatment for her own health issues and making a major economic development announcement
- Gov. Ivey Provides Extra Fed Funds for Hospitals: The governor released a conditional state appropriation that will result in extra payments to state hospitals for treating Medicaid beneficiaries. The combined $78 million will be available in the 2020 fiscal year, which began October 1. The additional funds will offer relief for hospitals facing financial strain, including rural hospitals and the state’s two children’s hospitals. Dr. Don Williams, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, expressed appreciation to the legislature and the governor for the additional funds provided to the state Medicaid Agency for this purpose.
- Governor Undergoes Radiation Treatments: In a recent statement, Governor Ivey said she has completed a round of radiation treatments for a malignancy discovered on her lung 22 days ago. Ivey’s personal physician said she chose minimal radiation treatments and the least invasive treatment, which has an excellent cure rate. The governor has been visible throughout her treatments, showing no obvious negative effects from them.
- Shinhwa Group Opening Manufacturing: Governor Ivey recently announced the Shinhwa Group, an automotive parts manufacturer, plans to establish a manufacturing operation in Auburn to serve the region’s vibrant auto sector. The company’s decision to invest $42 million and create 95 jobs in Auburn is great news for Alabama, adding to the state’s rapidly growing automotive cluster that produces around 1 million vehicles a year and provides an estimated 40,000 direct jobs. Shinhwa’s high-level automation and innovative solutions to technological challenges represent an important new resource for existing automotive companies in the area.
