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Helping Mississippi’s Working Poor Get Healthcare is Economic Development in Action

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3 months ago

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Helping Mississippi’s Working Poor Get Healthcare is Economic Development in Action


  • Columnist Sid Salter says the Mississippi Legislature should finish the job and expand Medicaid.

In recent decades, Mississippi has defied the odds in economic development. Landing first Nissan and then Toyota automobile manufacturing plants, Steel Dynamics and Aluminum Dynamics flat-roll operations, and recently Amazon Web Services in Madison County and EVE Energy battery plant in Marshall County, Mississippi is, as Gov. Tate Reeves often repeats, “open for business.”

Those job victories are in addition to the $8.8 billion in agricultural production value led by Mississippi’s poultry and timber industries.

To keep Mississippi “open for business” it is incumbent on our state’s leadership to make sure current and future employers can invest in our state with a reasonable assurance of quality public schools, a well-maintained system of transportation infrastructure, green spaces and amenities that offer a reliably good quality of life, and an accessible, affordable and effective healthcare system.

Mississippi is finally taking steps toward reclaiming a portion of the federal tax dollars Mississippians have been paying to provide public healthcare for the working poor in 40 other states but not in our state where healthcare disparities are achingly real and politically inarguable.

The Mississippi House of Representatives has by a margin of 98 to 20 passed legislation that would expand Medicaid benefits to individuals aged 19 to 64 who earn no more than 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill contains a work requirement – which the feds are likely to disapprove – but even so, the bill would expand Medicaid coverage in Mississippi for four years before a legislative repealer kicks in.

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The bill now awaits the action of the Mississippi State Senate, where Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has been a champion of providing healthcare for Mississippi’s working poor along the general lines of the House proposal. If the Legislature can agree on a plan, that plan would then go to Reeves’ desk for his signature, veto, or decision to allow the bill to become law without his signature.

Opponents of any form of Medicaid expansion in Mississippi and the other 10 states across the country that have not expanded coverage make three primary arguments – the state can’t afford the state share of the costs, expanding Medicaid will discourage finding work, and states should not increase enrollment in a “broken program.”

But a scholarly article from the Journal of American Medicine in 2020 entitled “The Benefits of Medicaid Expansion” argues that Medicaid expansion impacts the state’s economy in three tangible ways: “1) Helps low-income families’ health and financial well-being, especially those in which someone has lost a job; 2) Expanding Medicaid reduces hospitals’ uncompensated care…uninsured patients will still be cared for, as hospitals on the front line have demonstrated every day throughout the coronavirus pandemic; and 3) Medicaid expansion creates or protects jobs.”

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The academic study, first published in 2019 by the National Bureau of Economic Research, was written by University of Michigan scholars Thomas C. Buchmueller and Helen G. Levy, and Betsy Q. Cliff of the School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago.

The trio of scholars found: “Comparing trends in states that implemented the Medicaid expansion to those that did not, we find that the ACA Medicaid expansion substantially increased insurance coverage and improved access to health care among unemployed workers. We then test whether this strengthening of the safety net affected transitions from unemployment to employment or out of the labor force. We find no meaningful statistical evidence in support of moral hazard effects that reduce job finding or labor force attachment.”

The House version takes advantage of the fiscal realities of expanding Medicaid with a work requirement. The repealer gives state government a chance to review and assess the program after four years. And it provides a revenue source for Mississippi’s beleaguered rural hospitals.

Let me repeat this because it bears repeating. Mississippians who pay federal taxes are already paying for expanded Medicaid that benefits the working poor in other states. They were paying for it under Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden. The catch is, that none of your fellow Mississippians who are working but can’t afford health insurance can access that care.

The Mississippi Legislature should finish the job and change that irrational fact. Working poor Mississippians deserve the same medical care available to 80 percent of their American cousins.

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Mississippi

Miss Mississippi 2024: how to watch, preliminary competitions and events to attend

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4 hours ago

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June 2, 2024

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Miss Mississippi 2024: how to watch, preliminary competitions and events to attend


The Miss Mississippi competition is part of an almost century-long history of the Miss America Competition. Each year, dozens of hopefuls compete in various categories to win scholarships and the chance to compete on the national level.

This year’s Miss Mississippi competition will take place in Vicksburg in early June and will include three days worth of preliminary competitions leading up to the big finale.

The lucky winner will serve as Miss Mississippi for the next year, taking over the crown from last year’s winner Vivian O’Neal.

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More on O’Neal: Vivian O’Neal competes for Miss America crown. Here’s how to watch

The preliminaries

Many are familiar with the extravagant final competition held on a summer night in Vicksburg. However, in the days leading up to the final event, there are several preliminary competitions in which contestants compete in various categories, including evening wear, talent and health and fitness.

The categories are not separated by the three nights. Instead, each preliminary competition will include a full show of each of those categories. Each contestant will compete in all preliminary categories on one of the three nights. For example, one contestant may compete in talent on one night and then in evening wear the next.

Here is a schedule of the 2024 Miss Mississippi preliminary competitions. Each of the competitions will take place in the Vicksburg Convention Center.

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  • 7 p.m., June 5
  • 7 p.m., June 6
  • 7 p.m., June 7

The final competition

Months of anticipation from the contestants and the audience will come to a head Saturday night, June 8, in the Vicksburg Competition Center.

The top ten contestants from the preliminary rounds will compete for the crown.

Here’s how to watch the final night:

  • Final Competition: 8 p.m., June 8

The final competition will livestream on missmisslive.com.

Ticket packages including all three preliminary competitions and the final competition are $155 each and are sold on the Miss Mississippi website.

How to watch

Ticket packages including all three preliminary competitions and the final competition are $155 each and are sold on the Miss Mississippi website.

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The three preliminary competitions and the final competition will livestream on missmisslive.com.

Here’s a list of channels that will air the competitions:

  • WDAM Hattiesburg
  • WLBT Jackson
  • WLOX Biloxi
  • WMC Bounce Memphis
  • WTVA Tupelo
  • WTOK Meridian

Calling all football fans: Eli Manning estate sale moves online following overwhelming interest. See new dates here

More events to attend

Leading up to the competitions, Miss Mississippi has planned several events to engage the contestants and the audience.

Here are some events to attend this year in advance of the competition:

  • Miss Mississippi Parade and Autograph Party: 7 p.m., June 3, downtown Vicksburg
  • Kirk Chevrolet Autograph Party: 10 a.m., June 5, 2330 North Frontage Rd., Vicksburg
  • Downtown Vicksburg Autograph Party: 10 a.m., June 6, shops in downtown Vicksburg

Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com



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Mississippi State baseball unable to hold lead, falls to Virginia 5-4 – SuperTalk Mississippi

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11 hours ago

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June 1, 2024

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Mississippi State baseball unable to hold lead, falls to Virginia 5-4 – SuperTalk Mississippi


The Mississippi State baseball team had a chance to send Saturday’s game against Virginia into extra innings before second baseman Amani Larry botched a double-play opportunity to give the Cavaliers a win and a big advantage heading into day three of the Charlottesville Regional.

Virginia went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second when Eric Becker tripled to right center, sending Henry Godbout and Jacob Ference across home plate. Mississippi State didn’t wait long to take its first lead off a three-run home run from first baseman Hunter Hines in the top of the third. The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the fourth off a Virginia throwing error.

Mississippi State starting pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje continued to settle in over the next couple of innings with the help of his infielders making some big plays, including this highlight-reel catch by Hines to close out the fifth.

To the surprise of some, Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis allowed Cijntje to take the mound to start the seventh even though the switch pitcher had already exceeded his season-high pitch count. The move did not pay off as Virginia’s Becker knocked in two runs off a single to tie the game up with no outs. Tyson Hardin entered in relief and was able to get Mississippi State out of the inning with no further damage.

In the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs had a chance to retake the lead as David Merson forced a two-out walk. Dakota Jordan, who saved game one on Friday with an extra innings walk-off home run against St. John’s, hit a single that barely made it through the left side of the infield and with some aggressive baserunning, Mershon made it to third. With two runners on and a chance at a go-ahead hit, Hines’ heroics were exhausted as he grounded out to end the frame.

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Harrison Didawick started the bottom of the ninth with a ground-rule double that hopped over the left field fence. Godbout then walked with Becker reaching on a fielder’s choice to put a runner on first and third for Virginia. That’s when the miscue at second base happened as the Cavaliers celebrated the latest walk off this year’s postseason has seen.

 

Mississippi State will be back up against St. John’s on Sunday with an 11 a.m. CT first pitch set for the elimination game. Whoever wins will face off against Virginia at 5 p.m. CT with two wins needed to overcome. If a second game is forced, that will be played on Monday at a time to be determined. The Cavaliers need just one more win to advance to a super regional.

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High-powered Virginia lineup on deck for Mississippi State Baseball

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19 hours ago

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June 1, 2024

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High-powered Virginia lineup on deck for Mississippi State Baseball


Dakota Jordan’s slump-busting, walk-off, 3-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted Mississippi State baseball over St. John’s and into the winner’s bracket of the Charlottesville regional Friday night. Now, the Diamond Dawgs will take on regional host and #12 national seed Virginia, one of the best offensive teams in the country.

5:00 pm CT on ACC Network and ESPN+

Though the Cavaliers are most know for electric offense, it was their pitching that led the way in their 4-2 regional opening win over Penn. They held the Quakers to just two runs on four hits while striking out 11 and using just two pitchers. Second-baseman Henry Godbout hit a 3-run homer in the 2nd, and the Hoos would tack on an insurance run in the 7th.

MSU saw some high-powered lineups in SEC play this year, and Virginia is just as good as those if not better. Their team average of .339 is second nationally, and they’re third in runs per game at 9.6. Their entire starting lineup is batting at least .300. Eight players have at least 40 RBI, and four have at least 13 home runs.

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Left-fielder Harrison Didawick leads the team with 23 homers and 67 RBI. Center-fielder Bobby Whalen is batting .395, and catcher Jacob Ference is slugging at .750. The Hoos can mash, and while Penn limited their offense on Friday, MSU’s Jurrangelo Cijntje will need an elite outing to keep them at bay.

UVA HC Brian O’Conner chose to hold his ace, Evan Blanco, against Penn, assuming they could get to the winner’s bracket without him. That decision paid off, and now they’ll start their best arm against MSU.

Blanco is 7-3 on the year with a 3.50 ERA with a 79/24 K/BB ratio. The lefty’s been the lone sure-starter for the Cavs this year, and he was fantastic in his last two outings. Nearly all of UVA’s bullpen will be available on Saturday, including Dean Kampschror (3.48 ERA) and Angelo Tonas (3.97 ERA).

Inconsistency at the plate was the biggest issue for Mississippi State in the regular season, and that’s held true in the postseason. It’s taken final inning heroics from Connor Hujsak and Dakota Jordan to drag State to wins in low-scoring affairs.

They can’t count on that against Virginia. While there’s all the reason to be confident in Jurrangelo Cijntje to give State a great outing, and UVA’s lineup was mostly quiet against Penn, the Cavs have been too good offensively this year to just assume they won’t find some success at the plate Saturday night.

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MSU’s own lineup is going to need a good game if they want to move to 2-0 in Charlottesville. Hopefully, Dakota Jordan’s walk-off sparked something for this team going forward.



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