Most want Medicaid expansion; why aren’t legislators listening? – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper

If it’s what nearly all of the voters desires, shouldn’t we be capable to get it?

That’s a easy query with a posh reply, notably when it comes the practically 300,000 working poor in Mississippi with out well being care protection.

A ballot launched this week by Mississippi At present discovered that 80 p.c of Mississippians, together with 70 p.c of Republicans, help Medicaid enlargement in our state.

However our leaders – from Gov Tate Reeves to nearly all of state legislators – don’t.

Mississippi is certainly one of solely 11 states to not take part in Medicaid enlargement, rejecting practically $1 billion in federal funds every year that might be used to assist present well being care in one of many poorest states within the nation.

And that cussed refusal to develop a stigmatized program – one which admittedly has its flaws – leaves our state going through a monetary and well being care disaster. As a result of hospitals have an obligation to offer care no matter a person’s capacity to pay for that care, hospitals in Mississippi supplied virtually $600 million in uncompensated care in 2021, greater than twice that quantity supplied in 2010. In an trade fraught with challenges, uncompensated care combines with skyrocketing prices to create an almost insurmountable hurdle for healthcare suppliers. State healthcare leaders have warned that 38 hospitals all through Mississippi – together with some within the Delta which are the one regional hospitals – are at risk of closing.

If these hospitals are compelled to shut, we can have twice failed to offer take care of these most in want in our state. And that’s shameful, particularly when it may be averted.

The Mississippi State Medical Affiliation and the hospital affiliation have lobbied for a palatable compromise on this partisan legislative battle. Earlier this month, the MSMA addressed what it referred to as the speedy disaster that “progressively engulfs us” and supplied recommendations for actions that lawmakers might take this session, from elevating the earnings eligibility for Medicaid to contemplating a mannequin much like Arkansas, which would offer entry to take care of working Mississippians by way of the acquisition of personal insurance coverage with state funding for certified recipients to restructuring the healthcare supply system throughout the state.

The MSMA options will not be the one ones being supplied, nor are they essentially the appropriate resolution for all of Mississippi. The purpose is that the MSMA, and others, are providing options and recommendations that deserve severe consideration and motion by the legislature and consideration by the governor.

Most of us in Mississippi see the necessity for increasing healthcare protection to our working poor – no matter our political views – and we deserve state leaders prepared to place apart partisan politics to concentrate on discovering a viable and workable resolution.

And whereas that may not be easy to do, it’s completely needed.