Survey: Majority of lawmakers support postpartum Medicaid extension

Although they haven’t been given the possibility to vote on it, a majority of Home members wish to lengthen well being care protection for mothers on Medicaid from two months to at least one 12 months, a Mississippi At the moment survey reveals.

Mississippi At the moment is polling all 174 lawmakers on the problem, which well being care leaders say would save numerous lives throughout the state that persistently ranks close to final for maternal mortality and final for toddler mortality.

Greater than a voting majority in each the Home and Senate — together with quite a few Republicans — advised Mississippi At the moment they assist extending postpartum Medicaid protection from two months to 12 months.

Moreover, a number of lawmakers who stated they had been nonetheless formally undecided on the problem and wouldn’t give a direct “sure” or “no” reply appeared prepared to think about it.

“I’m undecided, however the cause I’m undecided is that the management, for no matter cause up thus far, has prevented that from being introduced up so we are able to ask questions,” stated Rep. Jay McKnight, R-Gulfport. “I’ve some questions each methods on it that I wish to hear the solutions.”

READ MORE: The place every lawmaker stands on postpartum Medicaid extension

Although the assist is obvious, Home members could not get the possibility to vote on it.

Final 12 months, the measure overwhelmingly handed the Senate, with Republican leaders in that chamber calling it “a no brainer.” However it was killed by Speaker of the Home Philip Gunn, who continues to say he has not seen information about how it will assist save lives. 

Gunn stays noncommittal this 12 months about whether or not he’ll convey the problem to a vote, and he says he desires the Mississippi Division of Medicaid to take a place. State Medicaid officers, together with government director Drew Snyder, have refused to reply questions in regards to the subject.

A number of lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats in each the Home and Senate — filed payments early this 12 months to increase the protection to at least one 12 months. If handed, it will put Mississippi on the identical web page as 29 different states, together with a lot of the Southeast. Eight further states are at the moment contemplating full prolonged protection or a restricted extension of protection.

The Senate, like final 12 months, handed a postpartum extension invoice out of committee earlier than a key Jan. 31 deadline. However an identical Home invoice, filed by Republican Rep. Missy McGee, died in committee on deadline day with out receiving a vote.

Rep. Joey Hood, a Republican from Ackerman who chairs the Home Medicaid Committee, didn’t convene a single assembly of his committee earlier than the Jan. 31 deadline, so the Home invoice died and not using a vote and even debate. Hood on Wednesday refused to say whether or not he supported the postpartum Medicaid extension.

The Senate invoice, nonetheless, is predicted to go the complete Senate chamber in coming days and transfer to the Home, the place Gunn and his management workforce will resolve whether or not to convey it up in committee.

The Senate final 12 months handed comparable measures thrice, and pretty broad Republican assist in that chamber stays, based on the Mississippi At the moment survey.

“I’m pro-life, and I feel being pro-life means you handle these moms and youngsters,” stated Sen. Chad McMahan, a Republican from Guntown. “I’ve voted for it thrice and I plan to take action once more.”

Gunn, who exerts broad management over the Home chamber and laws that strikes by it, should designate the Senate invoice to a Home committee. Gunn’s hand-picked committee chair — maybe Hood, the Home Medicaid Committee chief — will then get to resolve whether or not to take up the invoice in committee. They may select to let the invoice die on the Home committee calendar with out consideration, or they may take it up in committee.

If a Home committee passes the Senate postpartum invoice, it will then transfer to the Home ground for consideration and debate there. Home leaders, together with Gunn, may once more resolve to let the invoice die on the Home calendar with out debate.

READ MORE: Stress grows for lawmakers to go postpartum Medicaid extension