A coalition of advocates in Mississippi is pushing for full Medicaid expansion at the state Capitol, arguing that lawmakers have an economic and moral responsibility to ensure more residents have access to healthcare coverage. The group, made up of religious and nonprofit organizations, is calling for a plan that covers people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, in contrast to a competing Senate proposal that would only cover those earning up to 100% of that threshold. This push comes as lawmakers begin negotiations to reach a consensus on Medicaid expansion, with the House and Senate working to iron out the details of a potential plan.
House Medicaid Committee Chairwoman Missy McGee has proposed a plan that could extend benefits to as many as 200,000 people, while Senate Medicaid Committee Chairman Kevin Blackwell estimates that the Senate’s plan could make 80,000 people eligible for coverage. However, only about 40,000 are expected to enroll under the Senate’s proposal, which also includes a stricter work requirement that may not be approved by the Biden administration. If Mississippi fully expands Medicaid, the state could receive an additional $700 million in federal funding, but this would be at risk if the Senate plan is implemented.
Mississippi’s Republican-controlled Legislature is considering Medicaid expansion after years of opposition to the policy allowed under the Affordable Care Act. The state currently has the highest rate of preventable deaths in the U.S. and ranks poorly on various health care indicators. Proponents of expansion argue that it could help address these issues, as well as boost the state’s low labor force participation rate. However, opponents believe that Medicaid expansion could lead to government dependency, longer wait times for health services, and a decrease in private insurance coverage. Governor Tate Reeves opposes expansion and has launched campaigns to discourage senators from supporting the policy.
Reeves has indicated that he will likely veto any Medicaid expansion legislation that reaches his desk. However, lawmakers could override his veto with a two-thirds vote from the House and Senate. Policy analysts from the Hilltop Institute have proposed a compromise plan that would use federal money to help individuals who fall between 100% to 138% of the poverty level purchase private insurance plans through Mississippi’s health care exchange. This plan could provide coverage for 197,000 people. Leaders from various religious institutions in Mississippi have come out in support of full expansion, arguing that it makes economic sense and is the morally right decision, regardless of political affiliation.
