Senate Committee Advances Amended Medicaid Expansion Bill
Mississippi Senate’s Medicaid Expansion: Trimming Benefits for Many. (PHOTO: City News Kitchener)
Revised Plan Alters Medicaid Expansion Parameters
According to Clarion Ledger, in a significant development regarding Medicaid expansion in Mississippi, the Senate Committee has advanced an amended bill aimed at providing healthcare to approximately 80,000 of the state’s poorest working individuals. However, the revised version proposed by Medicaid Committee Chairman Kevin Blackwell, described as a “conservative plan,” notably scales back some key provisions of the original House bill signaling a shift in approach.
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Senate Version Introduces Key Changes to Medicaid Expansion Measure
A number of changes are made to the Medicaid expansion measure in the Senate version, such as the addition of a request for a waiver of the work requirement and adjustments to the eligibility requirements. Interestingly, the law places strict requirements for enrollment, like quarterly eligibility reviews and restricting coverage to those earning up to 99% of the federal poverty line, and also extends coverage to anybody caring for a kid, parent, or spouse who is already enrolled in Medicaid. Governor Tate Reeves is adamantly opposed to Medicaid expansion in any form, despite attempts to rework the plan to take a more conservative stance. He bases this opposition on worries about the working poor’s impact and what he perceives as the spread of welfare. The fate of the bill, which could affect thousands of Mississippians’ access to healthcare and the state’s ongoing discussions about how to address healthcare inequities, is in doubt as it moves to the Senate floor for a vote.
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