When former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear took office in 2007, the Bluegrass State had many challenges — not the least of which was lack of health care for working folks […]
In the News
Group members calling for Medicaid expansion make stop in Tupelo
A group aligned with the Democrat Party of Mississippi is calling for an expansion of Medicaid in the state. The organization known as “Save Our Hospitals” made a stop in […]
Poll: 92% of Mississippi voters concerned about hospital crisis, 72% favor Medicaid expansion
An overwhelming majority of Mississippians are concerned about the state’s hospital crisis, and voters by a large margin favor Medicaid expansion to provide health care for the working poor. A […]
Lawmakers will follow the leader
As he has several times previously, Brandon Presley pledged Wednesday, at a campaign stop in Greenwood, that he would act immediately to expand Medicaid if elected Mississippi’s governor in November. […]
‘A no-brainer’: Why former Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe successfully pushed Medicaid expansion
Shortly after President Barack Obama ushered the Affordable Care Act through Congress, the U.S. states expanding Medicaid were for the most part Democratic-dominated states in the northeast and west coast […]
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards: Medicaid expansion ‘easiest big decision I ever made’
Two-term Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards calls expanding Medicaid as he took office in 2016 “the easiest big decision I have ever made” — and one that has had clear […]
Can a Mississippi governor expand Medicaid on his own? Depends on who you ask.
Mississippi Today interviewed two Deep South governors about why they chose to champion and pass Medicaid expansion in their states and what the outcomes have been. Those articles will publish […]
Providing Medicaid To Working Poor Mississippians Isn’t Welfare. It’s Health Care.
An overwhelming majority of Mississippians are concerned about the state’s hospital crisis, and voters by a large margin favor Medicaid expansion to provide health care for the working poor. A […]
No statewide official endorses Medicaid expansion at Neshoba
In 2013, then-state Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, said he opposed Mississippi expanding Medicaid because there was no guarantee the federal government would continue to pay for the program. “Knowing that […]
Guest Opinion: Pandemic Tested Medicaid Expansion
Mississippi, as with the rest of the country, has been steadily lopping people off the Medicaid rolls for the past two months. In June alone, 29,000 people in Mississippi were […]
As More Hospitals Fail, Presley Blames Reeves For Not Expanding Medicaid
The latest round of hospital closures and cuts suggest Mississippi’s health care “system is burning to the ground” while Gov. Tate Reeves rejects Medicaid expansion, Democratic candidate for governor Brandon […]
‘Now is not the time to go radio silent’: Medicaid drops 29,000 Mississippians
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid removed 29,000 Mississippians from its rolls, marking the first wave of disenrollments as the agency reviews eligibility of its beneficiaries after the end of pandemic-era […]
Mississippi removes thousands of people from Medicaid as it examines post-pandemic eligibility
Mississippi has removed more than 29,000 people from Medicaid as the program starts reviewing who is eligible to keep coverage now that the federal government has ended a pandemic public […]
Mississippi Removes 29,000 From Medicaid Rolls After COVID Orders End
More than 29,000 Mississippians lost Medicaid coverage at the end of June after the federal government ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Those disenrolled accounted for 44% of those who […]
In push for Medicaid expansion, Presley signals openness to Arkansas or Indiana models
In his latest pitch to voters on expanding Medicaid coverage to the working poor, Brandon Presley said he would consider a model similar to Arkansas or Indiana’s version, a plan […]
Studies show that not expanding Medicaid is killing Mississippians
Study after study details how expanding Medicaid will create jobs, grow the state economy and provide a boost to Mississippi’s beleaguered hospitals. The issue of expanding Medicaid will be hotly […]
Medicaid expansion is popular among voters. Who knew?
A recent poll told us what most people already knew and only a handful of state leaders truly fear: Expanding Medicaid to help bolster Mississippi’s suffering health care system is […]
Few Mississippi lawmakers outright oppose Medicaid expansion
No Republican lawmaker in the Mississippi House or Senate voted in favor of Medicaid expansion when legislative Democrats forced votes on the issue during the recently completed 2023 session. But […]
Poll: Two-thirds of Mississippians support Medicaid expansion
As candidates for state offices begin to make their campaign pitches to voters, a new Mississippi Today/Siena College poll shows that a vast majority of Mississippians across partisan and demographic […]
Care 4 Mississippi coalition: Sen. Blackwell’s efforts to revive measure extending coverage window for postpartum mothers could save lives
The Care 4 Mississippi Coalition released the following statement responding to Sen. Kevin Blackwell’s effort to revive proposed legislation, SB 2033, which would extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from […]
Struggling Hospitals Could Get $103 Million in Grants, Still No Medicaid Expansion
Dozens of struggling Mississippi hospitals could soon receive $103 million in grant awards that could help keep them afloat if Gov. Tate Reeves signs Senate Bill 2372 and House Bill 271 into law after […]
Q&A: Harvard public health dean talks Medicaid expansion and heartbreaking mortality rates of Delta mothers
Michelle Williams, a renowned epidemiologist and dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, caught up with health editor Kate Royals following the state Legislature’s decision to expand […]
SPLC action fund statement on postpartum extension
The SPLC Action Fund applauds the passage of Senate Bill 2212, which was signed into law today. Under this change, postpartum care for mothers is extended from 60 days to […]
New poll shows overwhelming voter support for Medicaid expansion
A wide majority of Mississippians across partisan and demographic lines supports expanding Medicaid to provide health coverage for the working poor, according to a newly released Mississippi Today/Siena College poll. […]