Mississippi lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand Medicaid coverage, potentially benefiting tens of thousands more people in the state. The proposal includes a work requirement that may not receive federal approval, with Georgia currently being the only state with a Medicaid work requirement. The House and Senate passed separate expansion plans earlier in the year, and lawmakers are expected to vote on the compromise proposal this week.
The plan would require new Medicaid recipients to be employed for at least 100 hours a month in a job that does not provide private health insurance, or they could fit into other categories such as being a full-time student or the parent of a child younger than 6. If the federal government rejects Mississippi’s work requirement, the state Division of Medicaid would be required to continue seeking approval each year. Georgia is currently suing the federal government to try to keep their Medicaid work requirement mandate in place after the Biden administration announced it was revoking the approval.
Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the U.S., could benefit from covering tens of thousands more people with Medicaid to help them manage chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes. The state has resisted Medicaid expansion despite federal health overhaul legislation allowing for it in 2010. Republican Governor Tate Reeves has previously expressed reluctance to put more Mississippi residents on government programs, but dynamics in the Republican-controlled Legislature shifted this year with support for expansion from new House Speaker Jason White.
The House voted to expand Medicaid coverage to about 200,000 people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level, while the Senate passed a pared-down version extending eligibility to those earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level. It is estimated that about 80,000 people would be eligible for coverage under the Senate’s proposal, but only half that number may enroll. The Medicaid program in Mississippi currently covers over 370,000 people, with the potential for significant growth in coverage if the expansion plans are approved.
Advocates for Medicaid expansion in Mississippi argue that it could help financially struggling hospitals in the state, as well as provide essential healthcare coverage to those in need. The implementation of a work requirement could be a sticking point in the proposal if it does not receive federal approval, as seen in the case of Georgia’s ongoing lawsuit regarding their Medicaid work requirement. Mississippi lawmakers are facing pressure to address the healthcare needs of their residents and find a path forward for expanding Medicaid coverage in the state.
As the legislative session in Mississippi nears its end, lawmakers will soon vote on the proposed compromise plan to expand Medicaid coverage. The outcome of this vote will have significant implications for tens of thousands of people in the state who could potentially gain access to essential healthcare services through Medicaid. The debate over the inclusion of a work requirement in the proposal highlights the complexities of expanding healthcare coverage and navigating federal regulations in the current political landscape.
