House sends extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to governor

The Home on Tuesday despatched Gov. Tate Reeves a invoice to increase postpartum Medicaid protection for brand new moms in Mississippi from 60 days to a 12 months.

Reeves, who for greater than a 12 months refused to endorse the concept, lately introduced he would signal it into regulation. His election 12 months announcement coincided with latest polls that confirmed widespread, bipartisan assist for the prolonged protection. This may make Mississippi the final state within the nation to supply prolonged companies to new moms by federal-state Medicaid protection.

The extension of companies, pushed by Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Senate leaders, is an effort to ameliorate Mississippi’s excessive charges of toddler and maternal mortality and assist the state’s ailing well being care system address an anticipated increase of 1000’s extra births a 12 months from a ban on abortions.

However for greater than a 12 months the measure, which might value the state about $7 million a 12 months to attract down greater than $30 million a 12 months in federal {dollars}, was caught up in internecine Republican political feuding.

“That is the fitting factor to do for infants and moms,” Rep. Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg, mentioned to her colleagues earlier than Tuesday’s vote. “I don’t assume one thing involving moms’ or infants’ well being ought to ever be a political chess piece.”

The Home’s 89-29 vote to move Senate Invoice 2212 got here after Republican Home Speaker Philip Gunn, who had beforehand killed related measures together with one authored by McGee, with no vote, did an about face on the difficulty after Reeves’ announcement. Gunn had lumped the measure in with broader Medicaid enlargement to cowl the working poor, which he and Reeves have staunchly opposed and thwarted for years.

There was little or no debate or questioning of the measure on Tuesday earlier than its passage by the Home, and no makes an attempt at amendments, which might have held it for extra debate and votes. Rep. Steve Hopkins, R-Southaven, made a movement to desk the invoice, which might have possible killed it with a looming deadline, however his movement was defeated by a voice vote.

Rep. Dan Eubanks, R-Partitions, who additionally voted in opposition to the invoice, briefly questioned McGee as she dealt with its passage on the ground. He questioned Mississippi’s Medicaid protection for pregnant girls. Greater than 60% of Mississippi births are to moms on Medicaid protection.

“It doesn’t matter your internet value, or how a lot cash you make, in case your pregnant, you’re eligible for Medicaid, proper?” Eubanks mentioned. “If you’re a lady in Mississippi and pregnant you’ll be able to select to be on the state’s dime.”

McGee responded that solely moms making at or under 194% of the federal poverty degree are eligible.

“Do you need to know what that degree is?” McGee mentioned. “It’s $26,300 for one, or $35,521 for a household of two.”

Eubanks mentioned, “My understanding should be mistaken.”

Whereas the invoice garnered some Republican assist, 29 of the Home’s 77 Republicans, together with Gunn, voted in opposition to it, with one not voting and one absent.

Home and Senate minority leaders, Rep. Robert Johnson III, D-Natchez, and Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, issued an announcement after the Home vote. They proceed to advocate for full Medicaid enlargement below the federal Inexpensive Care Act to cowl the working poor in Mississippi and assist hospitals getting ready to closure.

“Postpartum Medicaid extension … is an excellent factor for Mississippi,” they wrote. “We’re grateful for the advocates and the medical professionals who fought tirelessly to make sure this second would come to move, and for the various Mississippians who spoke out to let our state’s elected leaders know that Mississippi’s mothers and infants deserve higher … We’re additionally acutely conscious that there’s a lot extra work to be carried out. This laws received’t defend the Mississippi hospitals getting ready to closure. It received’t ease a dad or mum’s thoughts that there’s an emergency room close by ought to their youngster want one. It received’t present healthcare to the practically 300,000 working Mississippians with out fundamental medical care. And it’s solely step one in starting to handle our third-world toddler and maternal mortality charges.”

As lawmakers labored Tuesday to fulfill a Wednesday deadline, the Home additionally voted on:

Senate Invoice 2079 to create a program for skilled, armed academics in colleges. The Home after prolonged debate struck Senate language from the invoice Tuesday and inserted its personal language from a model that died earlier, making certain extra work and debate on a ultimate model. The invoice would create a program — non-compulsory for college districts — for the Division of Public Security to coach academics within the use and carry of firearms on campus. Home Judiciary B Chairman Nick Bain, R-Corinth, mentioned the measure would additionally give college districts some authorized immunity and would enable them to be insured versus having their very own program and coaching for armed academics, which is allowed now. Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville, questioned whether or not armed academics, even with the DPS coaching, would possibly pose a hazard in an intense state of affairs. “Have you ever ever been in a state of affairs the place it’s important to shoot somebody? I’ve. There are nerves, adrenaline … you’ll be able to miss. What a couple of Taser or a stun gun? How about crawling earlier than you stroll?”

Senate Invoice 2420 to create a “Public Funds Offender Registry.” This invoice, now headed to the governor, would require public officers convicted of bribery, embezzlement or different crimes involving public cash to register as an offender with the Division of Public Security for 5 years, or till sure restitution or different situations are met. It might additionally prohibit state or native Mississippi governments from hiring these on the registry.