3 weeks ago
Top Mississippi lawmakers started negotiating Tuesday connected what could go a landmark scheme to expand Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands of group successful 1 of nan poorest states successful nan U.S.
But moreover pinch Republicans controlling some nan authorities House and Senate, it's acold from clear that they will scope a discuss during nan last days of their four-month convention that is scheduled to extremity by early May.
Mississippi is among nan 10 states that person not expanded Medicaid sum to group who activity low-wage jobs that don't supply backstage wellness insurance. Expansion is an action nether nan national wellness attraction overhaul signed into rule successful 2010 by then-President Barack Obama.
MEDICAID OFFICES SUE FOR DEAD PEOPLE’S HOMES TO COVER HEALTH CARE COSTS WITHOUT WARNING, CRITICS SAY
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has said for years that he opposes putting much group connected authorities programs.
Expansion is getting its first superior chat successful the Mississippi Capitol this twelvemonth because nan caller House speaker, Republican Jason White, says it is 1 of his priorities.
The House voted by a wide bipartisan separator successful precocious February to grow Medicaid sum to astir 200,000 group who gain up to 138% of nan national poorness level, aliases $20,120 annually for 1 person. Mississippi has astir 3 cardinal residents, and its Medicaid programme covered 374,823 group successful March.
Mississippi House Medicaid Committee Chairman Rep. Missy McGee discusses nan costs of Medicaid description astatine a nationalist legislative convention committee gathering held astatine nan State Capitol connected April 23, 2024, successful Jackson, Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
In precocious March, nan Senate passed its ain pared-down type that would widen eligibility to group earning up to 100% of nan national poorness level, conscionable complete $15,000 for 1 person. Senate Medicaid Committee Chairman Kevin Blackwell, a Republican from Southaven, said astir 80,000 group would go eligible for sum but he thought astir half that number would enroll.
House Medicaid Committee Chairwoman Missy McGee, a Republican from Hattiesburg, offered a discuss Tuesday. It would let Mississippi to person nan afloat magnitude of national money imaginable for Medicaid description . People earning up to 100% of nan national poorness level would beryllium covered by Medicaid, while those earning betwixt 100% and 138% of nan national poorness level would person subsidies to bargain security done a federal wellness insurance exchange.
Senators offered nary caller proposals Tuesday and did not instantly respond to nan 1 from nan House. Blackwell said it's important that nan 2 chambers are discussing description , but he cautioned against moving fast.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"In nan House’s case, I deliberation you guys want to jump successful nan sports car and zoom correct to description — damn nan roadblocks and let’s get there," Blackwell said. "Those of america successful nan Senate want to return benignant of a much slower attack to that."
McGee responded: "I don't consciousness for illustration we person been successful a Ferrari very long. I deliberation we person been waiting 10 years. ... We don't request to push this disconnected immoderate longer for our low-income yet hardworking Mississippians."
Mississippi legislators usually meet successful backstage to discuss last versions of bills, but they agreed this twelvemonth to clasp unfastened meetings connected Medicaid description . Tuesday's gathering ended up arsenic standing-room only, pinch immoderate spectators arriving hours early.
