Mississippi lawmakers are set to vote on a proposal to expand Medicaid coverage, including a work requirement. The state House and Senate passed separate expansion plans earlier this year, with negotiators submitting a compromise plan before the deadline. The proposal would require new Medicaid recipients to be employed at least 100 hours a month or fit into other categories, such as full-time students or parents of young children.
The plan includes a provision where if the federal government rejects Mississippi’s work requirement, the state Division of Medicaid would have to seek approval annually. Georgia is currently the only state with a Medicaid work requirement and is suing the federal government to keep the mandate. The work requirement was approved under the Trump administration but revoked by the Biden administration in December 2021.
Advocates argue that expanding Medicaid in Mississippi could help tens of thousands manage chronic health conditions like asthma and diabetes. Mississippi is among the 10 states that have resisted expansion under the federal health overhaul signed by President Obama in 2010. Governor Tate Reeves has historically opposed putting more Mississippi residents on government programs, but the dynamics in the Republican-controlled Legislature shifted this year with support from Speaker Jason White, who believes expansion could benefit financially struggling hospitals.
The House and Senate have both passed their versions of the Medicaid expansion plan, with the House voting to extend coverage to about 200,000 people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. The Senate’s version extends eligibility to those earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level, with estimates that about 80,000 people would become eligible. Despite the resistance to Medicaid expansion in Mississippi, there is a growing momentum in the Legislature to provide coverage for those in need.
The decision on Medicaid expansion in Mississippi comes at a pivotal time as the state grapples with high poverty rates and a lack of access to healthcare for many residents. The proposal to expand coverage could significantly impact the lives of thousands of Mississippians who currently do not have health insurance. If the work requirement is approved, it could serve as a model for other states looking to expand Medicaid while addressing concerns about sustainability and access to healthcare services.
As Mississippi lawmakers prepare to vote on the Medicaid expansion proposal, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the state’s healthcare system and its residents. The debate over the work requirement highlights the complexities of implementing such policies and the challenges of balancing federal regulations with state priorities. The decision will ultimately shape the future of healthcare in Mississippi and determine how thousands of vulnerable individuals receive vital medical services.
