It appears Medicaid will continue to offer postpartum coverage for 12 months after Speaker of the House Philip Gunn surrendered yesterday. The Speaker killed a bill providing such coverage last year after it passed the Senate. However, Governor Tate Reeves announced Sunday he supported the additional coverage.
The federal government paid for the twelve month coverage as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Division of Medicaid Executive Director Drew Snyder (no relation to Dan) stated in a letter to Mr. Gunn yesterday the additional coverage would cost the state $7.1 million per year:
Since the public health emergency in early 2020, every state has maintained continuous coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries validly enrolled on or after March 18, 2020. Prior to the PHE, Medicaid-eligible moms in Mississippi who didn't otherwise qualify for full Medicaid coverage would receive two full months of Medicaid benefits after a delivery. When the two-month period ended, they would be enrolled in a limited-benefit Medicaid family planning waiver or be disenrolled from Medicaid. During the PHE, however, these Medicaid-eligible moms have maintained coverage indefinitely. Some already have received nearly 3 years of postpartum coverage instead of the traditional two months.
At the end of December, President Biden signed legislation to end continuous enrollment on March 31, 2023. Now, state policymakers are faced with a decision to revert to the pre PHE 60-day postpartum coverage duration for pregnant women or to establish a different postpartum coverage timeframe. The end of continuous enrollment comes at a time when Mississippi and other states are expecting to see more Medicaid-financed births after the Dobbs decision and elected officials are looking for effective pro-life policies for mothers and families in the post-Dobbs world.
In light of these unique circumstances, adopting a one-year coverage duration for postpartum pregnant women as set out in Senate Bill 2212 is a suitable approach for Mississippi. It also is consistent with the approach followed by similarly situated Medicaid programs in our region such as Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. A 12- month coverage duration also has the advantage of enabling Mississippi Medicaid to align coverage periods for the mom and for the newborn child, who already receives 12 months of full Medicaid coverage after birth.
The 12-month postpartum coverage duration is affordable. At an estimated gross cost of approximately $32 million in SFY2024 ($7.1 million state share), Mississippi Medicaid can finance a 12-month postpartum coverage duration over the long term with a relatively minimal impact on the Medicaid budget. If cost does become a concern in the near future, Mississippi Medicaid can recommend adjustments to other medical spending.
When compared to the 60-day period in effect prior to the PHE, a 12-month Medicaid postpartum coverage duration has the potential to improve the well-being of some women and their families, particularly women suffering from postpartum depression. While limited data is available at this time, Connecticut Medicaid has reported a modest decrease in short interpregnancy births in the first full year that postpartum coverage was extended indefinitely during the PHE.
I would also note that establishing a 12-month coverage duration for already-eligible Medicaid moms is different than expanding Medicaid to newly eligible adults under the Affordable Care Act. Low-income pregnant and postpartum women - who are the only population impacted by Senate Bill 2212 - have traditionally been part of Medicaid's social safety net and are already receiving Medicaid benefits. In contrast, ACA expansion gives full Medicaid coverage to non-disabled adults, many of whom are childless and may or may not be seeking employment. Furthermore, the gross state cost of ACA expansion over time would be dramatically higher than the cost of permanently extending postpartum coverage to 12 months.
I appreciate your willingness to closely scrutinize this proposed policy. We look forward to continuing to work with you and our other partners to administer the Medicaid program in a manner that provides value to both Medicaid beneficiaries and the general public.
SB #2212 passed the Senate on a 41-11 vote. History and text of bill.
26 comments:
blah blah blah...more welfare...blah blah blah....
File this under, "Elections are coming, and getting rid of Roe v. Wade wasn't as popular as the Republicans had thought it would be."
If they knew who the father was he should be responsible for this needed medical care.
File this under: "How to rip an election year talking point away from Elvis without incurring any political downside."
@8:36 AM - So if the woman can't afford medical care kill the baby? You are some kind of a special asshole.
Can we stop rewarding poor mothers for popping out more kids, please?
More workers paying for non-workers benefits. It’s the Mississippi way! Why we’ll always be a welfare state. No personal responsibility.
Its just our money--
$7.1 million is chump change. Chowke spends more than that on palm greasing.
Dear Lt. Governor Hoseman - thanks for the campaign material I will run this summer, at our first debate you can explain your position to our conservative base who will be paying for this additional welfare that comes from their hard earned wages they receive while at work and are not eligible for this government freebie. I know, I know it comes from federal dollars not state dollars so it’s not really from their taxed wages. Look forward to that soliloquy.
Sincerely,
Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Conservative Country)
Presley doesn't stand a chance.
I’m praying that the people of MS will wake up and stop allowing these mega republicans trick them.
Nobody has yet bothered to define postpartum care. I suppose the bill will have to be signed to see what's in it.
Caregivers and providers coming out of the woodwork in 3..2..1
Spending money on care for women after they give birth is the right thing to do.
I don't care how they got into the situation they are in. I care about caring for them. It saves money in the long run and gives the mother and the baby a better shot at a healthy life.
Presley is a wolf in sheep's clothing
Fed money is a trap with predatory bait, to gradually force States to conform to the Federal bureaucracy's radical marxist agenda in order to keep suckin Grey milk from the teat bait.
Education Choice and Vouchers and resulting prosperity bypasses that fool's bait.
@9:32 AM I think you are just looking for somebody to call an asshole. Postpartum is defined as "following childbirth." @8:36 AM is just saying that Republicans have realized the Dobbs v. Jackson Clinic isn't bringing in the votes they had hoped. Now they have backed themself into a corner where being pro-birth means you have to take care of mom and baby after the now legally mandated birthing.
@11:32 - Back up and give us your definition of 'spending money'. On what, specifically?
I consider my self a conservative Based on several comments I guess I’m a bleeding heart liberal. I believe that we should be responsible for our actions however I hope I never reach the point where I’m so calloused that I get angry when medical care is denied a new born because the mother can’t and the sire (didn’t want to use the word father) isn’t able. We are one of the leading church going states. Evidently it seems a lot of the attendees don’t listen to the sermon.
How much would it cost to put everyone in Mississippi on Medicaid? I’m tired of working and paying taxes and health insurance premiums. I think everyone in the state should be on it. Since Medicaid is free money from the federal government and it helps the economy wouldn’t it make sense for everyone to get it?
"Spending money on care for women after they give birth is the right thing to do.
I don't care how they got into the situation they are in. I care about caring for them. It saves money in the long run and gives the mother and the baby a better shot at a healthy life. "
I agree. Start by identifying the father of the baby. If he doesn't man up then garnish his wages until the mother's bills are paid. If that takes too long then sell his car and whatever else he has of value to support her and his baby. Debtors' prison needs a second look if he's still not fulfilling his responsibilities.
Most Everyone on here seems to assume that if you’re on Medicaid you’re immoral and promiscuous and have no right to respect. That seems quite a leap. I know - and expect you do too - many poor people who are hard-working, strong, moral. Many broad brushes being used here.
9:05 - I'm willing to suggest (and wager) that not 2 in 400 pregnant girls who are applying for or receiving Medicaid coverage are working, much less hardworking and moral.
By the way, the Woke movement and Cancel Culture have eliminated the words immoral and promiscuous as they tend to be race-associated.
And some of you say, "I don't care how they got in the situation they're in". There's a major part of the problem. What we accept and condone, we encourage.
4:49 - 9:05 here: well, gee, you sure sound like you have a lot of data to back you up so I will bow to your thorough arguments that one-half of one percent of Medicaid mothers deserve and post-partum care. You win! BTW, funny, I didn’t mention race but it seems to be a factor in your mind, so, again, I defer.
8:51 - Race itself is the primary basis for WOKE and Cancel Culture. It exists whether you bring it up or I bring it up or whether nobody brings it up.
The two onerous words you used are victims of cancel culture which is based on race. This is not that difficult to understand.
I said "I suggest and am willing to wager". I didn't say I have data to back me up as that data is supposedly confidential. Try harder to pay attention.
All of you need to find out what postpartum care IS and WHY it's necessary.
If you want the mother and/ or child to die needlessly for rather common complications ( hence the $7.1 million figure, then fine.
We will go even faster toward having a 3rd world death rate for mothers and babies.
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