What’s next for postpartum Medicaid in Mississippi after Tate Reeves decides to back it

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, who ran in 2019 promising to “say no” to Medicaid growth, announced Sunday that he helps an extension of Medicaid protection to moms who’re as much as 12-months postpartum, a transfer he says is a part of the “new pro-life agenda” that he has referred to as for because the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Reeves, who seems more likely to face a Democratic challenger in November that helps even additional growth of Medicaid, took to social media Sunday afternoon to announce his assist for extending postpartum Medicaid protection from 60 days to at least one 12 months.

Postpartum Medicaid protection was prolonged to 12-months nationwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, however that expires in April, leaving many states scrambling to vary their very own Medicaid legal guidelines and insurance policies earlier than the deadline.

Reeves is simply the most recent Mississippi official to assist such a change. Legal professional Basic Lynn Fitch, who led the authorized battle to overturn Roe v. Wade, did so earlier this month.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has lengthy been a vocal supporter, with the state Senate passing extension payments a number of instances in recent times, just for them to fail to achieve the Home ground, with Home management citing a scarcity of each knowledge from different states and suggestions from Mississippi’s personal Division of Medicaid. Within the months main as much as the session, Hosemann started citing current knowledge from Texas that confirmed optimistic impacts of their extension.

In his announcement, Reeves mentioned he has not absolutely modified his thoughts on extension, regardless of saying his assist for it.

“The talk surrounding the way forward for these advantages has been fierce. And, to be completely trustworthy, I have not been swayed by the information that’s, at greatest, incomplete and, at worst, typically misconstrued and mischaracterized by the ‘extra authorities advantages regardless of the associated fee’ crowd,” Reeves mentioned.

Regardless of not being absolutely “swayed by the information,” Reeves remains to be calling on the legislature to take motion in mild of the state’s ban on abortions.

“Nonetheless, the actual fact is we reside in a post-Dobbs world. We, as Mississippi conservatives, led the cost to finish Roe v. Wade and I could not be extra pleased with that victory. That authorized victory ensures that extra infants shall be born on this nice state and this nice nation. I imagine that to be a ravishing factor,” Reeves mentioned. “I additionally imagine that added stress shall be felt by extra Mississippi mothers. Now we have to like them. Now we have to assist them. And — in a post-Dobbs world — we could even must be prepared to do issues that make us ‘philosophically uncomfortable.’”

With Reeves, Hosemann and a majority of state senators on board, a invoice would solely want to realize assist of the Home within the closing month of session with the intention to change into regulation. Not one of the payments which have handed within the Senate in earlier classes have reached the Home ground beneath Speaker Philip Gunn and Medicaid Committee Chair Joey Hood.

Gunn has repeatedly mentioned he’s unconvinced by the information that outcomes improved within the years following nationwide extension because of the pandemic. Hood, who has not publicly expressed a place on extension, has till the top of day Tuesday to go the Senate invoice via his committee or it’ll once more die with out reaching the Home ground. He has but to name a gathering of that committee this session and none are but scheduled.

Although Reeves promised to signal any extension invoice that makes it out of the legislature, some query whether or not he might act unilaterally. Because the state’s chief government, Reeves oversees the Division of Medicaid. He didn’t deal with that chance in his endorsement of legislative motion.

The governor’s announcement was met by all kinds of responses, from each political allies and foes.

The 2 highest-ranking Democrats within the legislature, Senate Minority Chief Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, and Home Minority Chief Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, launched a joint assertion criticizing Reeves, partially for not extending protection by himself.

“The governor’s eleventh-hour endorsement of extending postpartum Medicaid protection is hardly an endorsement in any respect. Saying he’ll signal this invoice if it involves him is solely a last-ditch effort to save lots of face on a difficulty that the overwhelming majority of Mississippians assist. It isn’t brave; it’s craven political theater. The governor might lengthen postpartum Medicaid protection proper now, together with his personal signature, if he was really moved to be the champion of Mississippi households he claims to be in right this moment’s assertion,” the Democrats’ assertion learn.

Brandon Presley, the Democratic nominee for governor who’s more likely to face Reeves in November, was additionally crucial.

Different Democrats, although, expressed gratitude on the governor’s determination. Brandon Jones, a former member of the Home, applauded the governor’s determination on social media.

“I don’t care why Mississippi’s governor desires the state to supply healthcare to mothers and infants, I’m simply glad he obtained there. It’s the suitable factor to do and it’ll save lives. The great public coverage bandwagon is huge and at all times open!” Jones tweeted.

Hosemann, also via Twitter, thanked Reeves for supporting what has been a precedence for the lieutenant governor for years.

“We’re grateful for @tatereeves assist of extending postpartum healthcare protection to 12 months. The Senate has handed laws effectuating this alteration to be pro-life and pro-mother for two years. We’re hopeful the Home will be a part of us and produce the invoice to a vote,” Hosemann tweeted.

Reeves additionally confronted criticism, although, notably from small-government conservatives. Steven Ultroska, State Director for Mississippi on the State Freedom Caucus Community, mentioned extending Medicaid to new moms is simply step one towards full Medicaid growth. With Reeves dealing with minimal opposition from inside his personal occasion, Ultroska referred to as on voters to again Hosemann’s major challenger, far-right state Sen. Chris McDaniel.

“4 years in the past, he campaigned on being in opposition to Medicaid Enlargement, however now that he’ll glide via the Republican Main with no actual challenger, he is championing MedEx. If @senatormcdaniel does not win LG, I can assure MedEx will go subsequent 12 months, and Tate will fortunately signal,” Ultroska said via Twitter.

The 2023 session ends April 2. If the Senate invoice does go Hood’s committee by its Tuesday deadline, it could have a few week to go the total Home earlier than the subsequent legislative deadline.