Thursday, February 11, 2021

Payback Bill Passes

 The House overwhelmingly passed a bill yesterday that strips the Governor's authority to operate the Division of Medicaid.  

Representative Trey Lamar authored HB #1013. The bill creates a Medicaid Commission to run the agency.  It states in the very first section: 

The commission shall consist of seven (7) members, with three (3) members appointed by the Governor and four (4) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.  All initial and later appointments to the commission shall be with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Speaker is allowed to recommend two nominations to the Lieutenant Governor.  The House leadership is trying to get cute.  The Mississippi Constitution prohibits the Speaker of the House from appointing such members so they are trying to sneak control through the Lieutenant Governor.   Bill history and text.

The bill passed 102-14.  

 

The bill is seen as a sort of payback to the Governor.  The House leaderships suffered an embarrassing loss to the Governor over the line item veto in court recently.  The Governor used the power to veto an appropriation that would have sent $2 million in CARES Act funds to a closed hospital in Representative Lamar's district.  

Kingfish note: Lord Lamar says the bill will create more accountability.  Actually, the bill will create less accountability.  There will be seven sets of fingers pointing at each other.  No one can fire the board members.  It will take a majority vote to fire a wayward Executive Director. The board will have blocs as boards often do.  Executive Directors often take control of the board.  This bill allows the legislature to control the Division of Medicaid so it can line the pockets of the favored friends. 



16 comments:

Anonymous said...

If queen guppie hates it....it’s got be better for my
Home state of Mississippi....

Look what Medicaid has done for Mississippi so far?

Left 3 billion on the table and running

Losers killing people

j'etait Charles Martel said...


This looks like a firm step in the wrong direction.

This wonderful state has suffered against almost all of its neighboring states because the governor was too weak, and the legislature too strong. This strength is most often misspent in the circular firing squads that in groups like that fall within. Too much ego and too little action.

Nothing like being ruled by a dispirate committee; not unlike being attached to a ten ton anchor.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone look beyond the obvious and the Republican party approved agenda on state government issues?

FWIW Mississippi Medicaid has for years paid my Medicare Part B premium because I am a veteran and an insurance company agent referred me to the local Medicaid office with instructions for a smooth landing there. Does the federal office of Medicaid/Medicare know about that I wonder?

Madison Doctor said...

Randy Easterling for Director!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

What a horrible piece of public policy.

Anonymous said...

For everyone who thinks this extra billion dollar windfall Mississippi would receive from Medicaid expansion would somehow transform the state top to bottom, you do realize the state already receives multiple billions a year in federal Medicaid dollars and it has created...where we already are. Yeah, let’s embrace the genius plan of paying more state dollars to draw down what we already have. Simply stunning.

Anonymous said...

9:12
I like and supported this bill but F-Easterling!

Anonymous said...

If Medicaid is screwed up and the governor is in charge, it's very easy to hold him accountable.

If Medicaid is screwed up and a bunch of nameless faceless people in the legislature are in charge, it's almost impossible to hold them accountable.

Bad move.

Anonymous said...


"If Medicaid is screwed up and a bunch of nameless faceless people in the legislature are in charge, it's almost impossible to hold them accountable."

2:01 - Exactly how many people do you need to tell you that's the intention?

But...Medicaid has been fucked up in this state for twenty years as it is presently run...Let's see what this brings.

Anonymous said...

Medicaid has an excellent executive director and is functioning better than the legislature could ever achieve.

Anonymous said...

Trey Lamar continues to represent the worst in government.

Anonymous said...

The Medicaid director is one of the most talented people in the state (not just state government). The agency is functioning better under his leadership than under prior directors. He has been recognized on the national level for his leadership and abilities. The legislature either wants to take credit for the success or wants to line the pockets of their friends which they aren’t able to do currently. Probably some of both. Sadly, this is why we can’t keep talented people in state government. This will be a loss for our state.

Anonymous said...

Management at every level of Medicaid in this state represents nothing but a series of revolving chairs and doors. The entire organization, top to bottom and sideways is filled with incompetent PERS dwellers, regardless of who's put in charge this year or next.

Anonymous said...

Dang 10:12, that's a good one... "PERS dwellers".

From now on I won't be able to say 'state workers' any longer!

Anonymous said...

It's interesting that a couple of posters on this blog think that the current Medicaid executive director actually runs Medicaid. Ya'll DO realize that our illustrious governor has farmed out management and operation of Medicaid to several national for- profit managed care operators, don't you?? These organizations, with the leverage of high paid local lobbyists, are now making healthcare decisions based on profit margins. Check the SoS website for payment to these lobbyists; AND check also for political contributions from these Wall Street companies made to Gov. Tater.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi pretty much doesn't need an executive branch it seems. Weak governor? How about non-existent?..... if the Legislature is completely corrupt and can override any veto, and with a judiciary in its back pocket. What's left for the executive branch? Just put everything under the legislature so they can, yes, manage by "committee" and no one is ever accountable.

Perhaps the MS Supremes will strike this down.....if the they haven't been bought off.


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