Mississippi Senate leaders unveil health care recommendations

Jackson, ma’am.

Mississippi senators are proposing an $80 million grant program for financially struggling hospitals and different packages to assist the state entice and retain nurses and docs, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann mentioned on Wednesday.

State well being officer Dr. Dan Edney informed lawmakers in November that 54% of Mississippi’s rural hospitals are susceptible to closing. Mississippi has massive numbers of uninsured residents and healthcare services have confronted elevated prices through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Substantial, optimistic adjustments have to occur to offer our residents with the required rural well being[care],” Hosemann mentioned.

The agricultural, impoverished Delta has misplaced inhabitants over the previous few years, and a few hospitals in that space are decreasing companies and staff.

Throughout a press convention, Hosemann introduced 4 proposals, together with Senate Invoice 2372, which might create the hospital grant program. Hospitals that obtain cash should present details about what number of sufferers they’ve and what sorts of medical companies they supply – information that the state can use in well being sector planning within the state.

Senate Act 2373 will create a pupil mortgage forgiveness program of as much as $18,000 for any one that is a nurse and works in Mississippi.

Senate Act 2371 will create roughly $20 million in grants to group schools for nursing and allied well being packages. The invoice additionally proposes $5 million to permit extra hospitals to have residency packages for docs — a transfer Hosemann says will encourage these docs to remain within the communities the place they’re educated.

Senate Act 2323 will take away bureaucratic limitations to assist hospitals collaborate.

Hosemann mentioned the Division of Medicaid is anticipated to hunt federal permission to extend funds for some medical companies, however that request doesn’t require any motion from the Legislature.

Hosemann additionally mentioned Wednesday he will not be pushing to increase Medicaid protection to folks in low-wage jobs that do not present non-public insurance coverage — which places him in step with different Republican leaders, together with Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker of the Home Philip Gunn. .

Medicaid growth is permitted beneath a well being care overhaul, which former President Barack Obama signed into regulation in 2010, with a lot of the price borne by the federal authorities. Mississippi is amongst 11 states that don’t permit growth.

The vice-governor however reiterated a place that contradicted himself with the speaker. Hosemann mentioned he needs Mississippi to increase Medicaid protection from 60 days after start to a full yr. Senators voted final yr to increase postpartum protection, however the proposal failed amid opposition from Gunn within the Home.

“We received the case for all times and now do not we wish to care for our moms? “I do not perceive how one can have this sort of dialogue,” Hosemann mentioned on Wednesday.

The U.S. Supreme Courtroom dominated final summer time in a Mississippi case in Roe v. He used it to overturn the landmark resolution within the Wade case to subvert abortion rights throughout the nation.

Gunn mentioned he would help growth of postpartum Medicaid protection in Mississippi this yr provided that the State Division of Medicaid helps the extension. The leaders of this system didn’t take a stand on the problem.

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Observe Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.

This story was initially revealed 18 January 2023 17:21.