MONTGOMERY — A number of Alabama lawmakers expressed openness to expanding Medicaid on Wednesday after hearing from several state lawmakers from North Carolina and Arkansas about how expansion had benefited their states.

Members of the Joint Health Committee were given a presentation from North Carolina Reps. Jim Burgin and Donny Lambeth, and Arkansas Sen. Missy Irvin, all of whom gave their presentations remotely.

Attending in person was former Arkansas Department of Human Services Secretary Cindy Gillespie, who oversaw Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion in 2014. North Carolina expanded its own Medicaid program last December, becoming the 40th state to do so.