‘Moral imperative’: House overwhelmingly passes Mississippi Medicaid expansion

Since North Carolina passed the Medicaid expansion a few months ago, we're down to the final ten holdout states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TX, TN, WY, WI). Who had Mississippi as the most likely domino to fall next?

‘Moral imperative’: House overwhelmingly passes Mississippi Medicaid expansion

Medicaid expansion, which for more than a decade has been blocked by legislative leaders, passed the House Wednesday 98-20 in less than 15 minutes and now advances to the Senate.

House Medicaid Chair Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg, explained the policy as a “moral imperative” and said it “should transcend politics.” She also said that lawmakers have yet to propose a viable alternative to expansion to deal with Mississippi’s lack of health care access and poor health outcomes and that “‘No’ is not a policy that has helped.”

No questions followed McGee’s explanation of House Bill 1725. The bill passed with more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a potential veto from Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, who for years has opposed Medicaid expansion and reiterated his opposition multiple times during his successful reelection campaign last year.

The measure now heads to the Senate, which is also working on its own version of an expansion bill, as lawmakers consider making Mississippi the 41st state to expand Medicaid.

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Good to know the state Senate is interested in expanding Medicaid, as well. Hopefully they can get a veto-proof supermajority there, too, since the governor seems like an obstacle.

Greenbeard said:

North Carolina passed the Medicaid expansion a few months ago, we're down to the final ten holdout states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TX, TN, WY, WI). Who had Mississippi as the most likely domino to fall next?

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I really wish we had one country.

noonereal said:

I really wish we had one country.

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We have one red country and one blue country.

Integrityrespec said:

We have one red country and one blue country.

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But it’s not a symmetric situation.

Blue country advances policies which are designed to help the nation as a whole. Red country just sees everything as tribal, us against them, even if it hurts themselves. So they end up voting for policies and politicians who they become afraid will actually do what they voted for them to do. It would be kinda funny to watch, if it wasn’t so sad.

Medicaid?

THAT'S SOSHULIZM!

Integrityrespec said:

We have one red country and one blue country.

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Medicaid expansion-wise, the red country (here orange) gets smaller every year.

Integrityrespec said:

We have one red country and one blue country.

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Its way worse than that. My country home is where 3 states intersect. 3 sets of laws on everything. It's insame.
We get gas in one state, beer in another, wine in a 3rd. Depending on the type of clothing you buy, you need to change states. Legally buy fireworks only to have your seized for transporting them back home. Its ****in nuts.
But the worst part, we don't grow together.
Ever date a women and then get back together years later?
It does not work. You have grown apart.

I did not expect MS.

Sigh.
From the link:

"White expressed optimism the governor would sign the bill, saying he believed Reeves recognizes the importance of expanding health care access. Reeves has vehemently opposed Medicaid expansion, calling it “welfare” and “Obamacare.”

“A healthy workforce projects to a healthy economy,” White said. “… I’m not anticipating a veto at this point. I’m anticipating a business-minded, reasonable governor who weighs all options and all things and I think he is just that — in spite of what others may think.”

McGee in the press conference said: “Moving beyond a decade of simply saying ‘no’ to finding a workable solution to health access takes effort. But it’s a task I believe lawmakers from both parties in both chambers are up for … Most importantly I’m excited about the hundreds of thousands of working Mississippians that now and in the future could have a way toward a better, healthier quality of life.”"

It's the gift of socialism to employers so they can keep them low paid and not provide health insurance, taxpayers pay the health insurance costs for the low income EMPLOYEES.

Greenbeard said:

Since North Carolina passed the Medicaid expansion a few months ago, we're down to the final ten holdout states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TX, TN, WY, WI). Who had Mississippi as the most likely domino to fall next?

‘Moral imperative’: House overwhelmingly passes Mississippi Medicaid expansion


Good to know the state Senate is interested in expanding Medicaid, as well. Hopefully they can get a veto-proof supermajority there, too, since the governor seems like an obstacle.

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Well, there goes the Alabama cliche`,

"Thank God for Mississippi!"

Greenbeard said:

Medicaid expansion-wise, the red country (here orange) gets smaller every year.

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Wow. I was not aware FL is withholding MediAid from its citizens.

noonereal said:

Its way worse than that. My country home is where 3 states intersect. 3 sets of laws on everything. It's insame.
We get gas in one state, beer in another, wine in a 3rd. Depending on the type of clothing you buy, you need to change states. Legally buy fireworks only to have your seized for transporting them back home. Its ****in nuts.
But the worst part, we don't grow together.

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noonereal said:

Ever date a women and then get back together years later?
It does not work. You have grown apart.

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Ain't the bolded the truth? When it's gone, it's gone.

Greenbeard said:

Since North Carolina passed the Medicaid expansion a few months ago, we're down to the final ten holdout states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TX, TN, WY, WI). Who had Mississippi as the most likely domino to fall next?

‘Moral imperative’: House overwhelmingly passes Mississippi Medicaid expansion


Good to know the state Senate is interested in expanding Medicaid, as well. Hopefully they can get a veto-proof supermajority there, too, since the governor seems like an obstacle.

Click to expand...

What the hell? Mississippi doing something right for a change?

LucyLou said:

It's the gift of socialism to employers so they can keep them low paid and not provide health insurance, taxpayers pay the health insurance costs for the low income EMPLOYEES.

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Policymakers deciding to keep these people uninsured would surely teach their employers a lesson! But hey, after ten years it looks like they’re reconsidering that approach.

Chomsky said:

Wow. I was not aware FL is withholding MediAid from its citizens.

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DeSantis was rarely asked about it on the campaign trail but when he was the answer was mush.

From the article, for those not familiar (like myself) with the issue.
Authored by new House Speaker Jason White, R-West, and McGee, the bill would expand Medicaid eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level or about $20,000 annually for an individual. The bill contains a work requirement for recipients of Medicaid expansion, but states that the expansion would go into effect even if the federal government does not approve the work requirement.

zincwarrior said:

From the article, for those not familiar (like myself) with the issue.
Authored by new House Speaker Jason White, R-West, and McGee, the bill would expand Medicaid eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level or about $20,000 annually for an individual. The bill contains a work requirement for recipients of Medicaid expansion, but states that the expansion would go into effect even if the federal government does not approve the work requirement.

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One important point not mentioned in that blurb is that Medicaid expansion isn’t just about pushing eligibility up to higher income thresholds, though it does that. Under traditional (non-expanded) Medicaid, some people—namely single adults without children— aren’t ever eligible for Medicaid no matter how low their income is.

So without Medicaid expansion there’s lots and lots of poor people who simply have no coverage options available to them.

Greenbeard said:

One important point not mentioned in that blurb is that Medicaid expansion isn’t just about pushing eligibility up to higher income thresholds, though it does that. Under traditional (non-expanded) Medicaid, some people—namely single adults without children— aren’t ever eligible for Medicaid no matter how low their income is.

So without Medicaid expansion there’s lots and lots of poor people who simply have no coverage options available to them.

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That is an excellent point.