**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 4, 2025
Care4Mississippi Coalition Reacts to the End of the 2025 Legislative Session and the Continued Delay in Medicaid Expansion
JACKSON, Miss. – As the Mississippi legislature concludes its 2025 session, the Care4Mississippi coalition expresses its continued concern over the legislature’s decision not to expand Medicaid. For another year, lawmakers have left more than 200,000 working Mississippians without access to critical health care coverage that would provide essential services and support to those in need.
Consider the story of Ms. Andrea, a working Mississippian who used to have excellent healthcare coverage through her employer. After receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis, everything changed. Ms. Andrea lost her job and had to find new employment, but unfortunately, she can not afford the health insurance options her new employer provides. She’s told us that, in her situation, she would be ‘working just to pay the insurance.’ Fortunately, Ms. Andrea has found a charity clinic that helps provide some health care support, but not every person in the coverage gap is as fortunate. Thousands of Mississippians like Ms. Andrea are left struggling to navigate life without adequate care.
We are disappointed that, once again, Medicaid expansion was not addressed during this legislative session. Expanding Medicaid is a proven solution to improve health care access for those who fall into the coverage gap. While we recognize that this is a complex issue, the failure to take action continues to leave too many individuals and families without the care they need.
Medicaid expansion offers significant benefits, both to the health of Mississippians and to our state’s economy. It would help provide coverage to over 200,000 working Mississippians, supporting our workforce and lowering the financial strain on our hospitals and healthcare systems. It’s a practical solution that has been implemented successfully in 40 other states, and we believe it’s a step Mississippi can take to improve the quality of life for its residents.
We believe it is essential for our state’s leaders to continue working together toward a solution that meets the needs of all Mississippians. The Care4Mississippi coalition remains committed to advocating for Medicaid expansion and will continue to engage with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to raise awareness and build support for this important initiative.
We look forward to future discussions and remain hopeful that Mississippi will take the necessary steps to expand Medicaid and ensure all residents have access to affordable healthcare.
**For more information, please contact:**
Care4Mississippi Coalition
Sylvia-Nicole Cecchi, Coalition Co-Chair: Sncecchi@mhap.org
Blair Ewing, Coalition Co-Chair: Bewing@mhap.org
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