Mississippi House passes state's first Medicaid expansion bill
The state of Mississippi is one step closer to giving more than 210,000 residents access to healthcare via a Medicaid expansion bill.
House Bill 1725 passed the House by a vote of 98-20, with no vocal opposition to the bill after it was introduced by Medicaid Committee Chair Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg.
"What we really have for us is a solution to a fundamental challenge," McGee said to her fellow lawmakers. "Access to health care, this is a topic that should transcend politics and economics, for at its core is about the well-being and dignity of every Mississippian.
"Providing opportunities for health insurance is not just a matter of policy, it is a moral imperative, and a reflection of our state and the values of our state. Unfortunately, we as lawmakers, we often find ourselves being accustomed to some of the negative indicators regarding our state's quality of life. We hear them a lot, but what we have to remember is that these statistics aren't simply numbers on a page. They reflect the tough circumstances faced by actual people."
The bill will now be considered by the Senate, where GOP leadership has also introduced a bill to expand Medicaid.
If passed, the expansion would cover working people in the state who make 138% of the federal poverty line, or about $20,000 per year. Those eligible include people who work 20 hours per week or are full time students, to name a few.
After the vote, first year House Speaker Jason White told reporters during an afternoon press conference that the bill was a big move for the state, and if passed, would prove a great benefit to the people of Mississippi.
"As I have travelled across this state, visiting with business leaders, community officials, and ultimately voters, the most consistent message I hear is the demand to address the shortfalls in our health care accessibility, and availability in Mississippi," White said. "I found the desire to keep Mississippians in the workforce and out of our emergency rooms, transcending any political party and impacts all regions of our state. Our determination to improve access to health care is a vital piece of the economic puzzle as a healthy workforce supports a healthy economy."
White, who replaced former Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn, has been public about his support for expanding health insurance to the state's working poor since he took office in January. During his time as Speaker, Gunn thwarted several attempts to discuss, move or pass bills relating to Medicaid expansion.
White added that the Medicaid expansion bill, dubbed the Healthy Mississippi Works program, would serve as a pilot program and has an automatic repealer in 2029. At that time, lawmakers will need to enact legislation to keep the program alive.
White told reporters he is also positive that Senate leadership and lawmakers will approve of the bill even as senators work on their own legislation.
"They want to see a work requirement in the bill, and our bill has that," White said. "So there's a common ground right there right off the bat."
Despite the historic nature of the bill passed through the House Wednesday, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is still publicly opposed to the legislation.
Reeves posted on X, formerly known as Twitter several times this week already as HB 1725 made its way through the House Tuesday and Wednesday.
"I hope he will look at the legislation and take it seriously as it moves its way to the Senate and they send their bill to the House," White said. "I'm not expecting a veto."
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Medicaid expansion passes in MS House, MS Senate to now consider
