Last year, committee chairs in the House and Senate killed every Medicaid expansion bill without a debate or vote.
Now, for the first time in a decade, a policy that has been politically forbidden in Mississippi will at least get a full hearing.
That’s because of pivotal changes in House leadership. Newly elected Speaker Jason White appointed Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg, to chair the Medicaid Committee, and Sam Creekmore IV, R-New Albany, to chair the Public Health and Human Services Committee.
McGee has been a vocal proponent of postpartum coverage, which passed last year, and presumptive eligibility for pregnant women – which did not. Creekmore, along with Rep. Kevin Felsher, R-Biloxi, successfully passed legislation last year to improve mental health services in the state.
Both say that this year, nothing is off the table. And while leadership on the Senate side of Public Health and Medicaid remains the same, committee chairs there have voiced support of increasing health care coverage and reform.