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FAQ: What is postpartum Medicaid extension, exactly?

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FAQ: What is postpartum Medicaid extension, exactly?

by Devna Bose, Mississippi Today
February 27, 2023

Postpartum Medicaid extension is the talk of Mississippi politics this week, with lawmakers, statewide officials and candidates debating the merits of passing the policy designed to help mothers after they give birth.

Lawmakers face a key deadline this week to keep the proposed policy alive, and there is much disagreement about whether it’s right for Mississippi. There have been several rallies and press conferences at the state Capitol this session focused on the issue, and it will continue to emerge as a key theme of the 2023 election cycle.

We’ve compiled answers to some frequently asked questions to help you understand what it is, what it isn’t, and how its potential passage could impact Mississippians.

What is postpartum Medicaid extension, exactly?

Postpartum Medicaid extension is proposed legislation to extend the length of health care coverage for Mississippians on Medicaid who give birth. Postpartum visits can include care of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as mental health issues that might arise after giving birth, such as postpartum depression.

Federal law mandates that states provide postpartum Medicaid coverage for at least 60 days, which is the current limit in Mississippi. After 60 days, most Medicaid patients lose postpartum health care coverage, and this period of time is often most deadly for mothers. Most states, however, have passed measures to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to one full year post-birth — which is what the currently proposed Mississippi legislation would do.

READ MORE: Senate votes to extend postpartum care. Here’s what the bill would do.

Would postpartum Medicaid extension provide cash directly to mothers?

No. Mississippi opting into the program would simply send additional federal funds to the state’s Division of Medicaid, which would then reimburse health care providers directly for any care they provide to qualified mothers. Many politicians, however, have tried to equate Medicaid programs — including the postpartum Medicaid extension — with direct cash assistance in efforts to sow discontent among those opposed to more government spending.

Is postpartum care extension the same thing as Medicaid expansion?

No, postpartum Medicaid extension is not the same thing as Medicaid expansion, despite what prominent elected officials and candidates have said. The proposed postpartum extension would simply extend the length of time Mississippians who already qualify can access postpartum services. Medicaid expansion, which has never been seriously considered by Mississippi’s legislative leaders, would broadly cover health care services for hundreds of thousands of additional Mississippians. “Medicaid expansion,” as it’s commonly referred to by politicians, is a completely separate issue from “postpartum Medicaid extension.”

FAQ: What is Medicaid expansion, really?

What’s the background of this debate, and why does it matter right now?

Mississippi has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and it’s getting worse. The state also has the highest infant mortality rate, preterm birth rate and low birthweight rate in the country. Despite these problems, neonatal ICUs and labor and delivery units continue to close in the state — and the state is expecting thousands more births following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn abortion rights last summer.

Because two-thirds of babies born in Mississippi are born to people on Medicaid, extending postpartum coverage would boost the access to care and health outcomes of thousands of Mississippians, health care officials and researchers say. Doctors, nurses and major medical associations in the state have joined a growing chorus of everyday Mississippi this legislative session calling for postpartum Medicaid extension.

READ MORE: ‘Mississippi moms can’t wait’: Doctors urge legislators to extend postpartum coverage

Who qualifies for postpartum Medicaid coverage?

In Mississippi, pregnant people under 19 years old automatically qualify for pregnancy Medicaid, as well as pregnant people with income under 194% of the federal poverty level, or $2,255 of monthly income for a family of one.

How long are Mississippians who are expecting covered now?

Mississippians on Medicaid have postpartum coverage for two months after giving birth. However, regardless of what postpartum needs they might have beyond 60 days, they lose coverage after that. Research shows that drastic health problems for mothers exist and continue to develop well after two months postpartum.

Have other states extended postpartum Medicaid?

Yes, 29 other states have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year, and seven additional states are planning to offer the extension imminently. States that have also extended postpartum care include contiguous neighbors Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. Mississippi and Wyoming are the only two states that have neither extended postpartum coverage nor expanded Medicaid more broadly.

Why hasn’t it passed yet in Mississippi?

Though the Mississippi Senate has passed postpartum Medicaid extension four times in two years (and most recently on Feb. 7 of this year), the legislation has been killed by the House of Representatives — and specifically, by Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. The House Medicaid Committee appears to not have met once this session, an important note considering the postpartum Medicaid extension legislation must pass through that committee to go into effect.

READ MORE: Pressure grows for lawmakers to pass postpartum Medicaid extension

The chair of the House Medicaid Committee, Rep. Joey Hood, refused to answer last week when asked about whether his committee will meet or take up the Senate bill. Gov. Tate Reeves, who has for months voiced his opposition to the legislation, reversed course and urged lawmakers to pass it on Feb. 26. As recently as Feb. 22, Gunn said he would not allow the legislation to be brought to the House floor because he believes it is Medicaid expansion, which he staunchly opposes.

READ MORE: How Rep. Joey Hood could save the lives of countless Mississippi mothers

Who supports it and why?

Statewide organizations and health professionals have advocated for the policy change, including State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney, the Mississippi State Medical Association, the Mississippi Medical Care Advisory Committee and the Mississippi Economic Council. Additionally, a Mississippi Today survey conducted this session showed that a majority of lawmakers — including members of the House — support the policy measure. Recent polling of Mississippi voters shows that more than two-thirds of the state supports the measure. Advocates say it will widely improve health outcomes in Mississippi.

READ MORE: Survey: Majority of lawmakers support postpartum Medicaid extension

What would the economic impact of passing it be?

Officials and advocates have said that postpartum Medicaid extension would result in net savings for the state by preventing costly medical conditions from lack of treatment. Premature babies can cost the state more than half a million dollars more than babies born at term. It’s estimated that extending postpartum Medicaid coverage in Mississippi would cost about $6 million to $7 million per year, which is a marginal total considering the state’s current $3.9 billion surplus.

Who can extend postpartum Medicaid?

It’s still not clear if Gov. Reeves could pass the policy on his own as head of the state’s Division of Medicaid, though legislative leaders have long said that Reeves has the power to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage without their approval. Reeves recently said if the Legislature passed the bill, he would sign it into law, but he did not address the stated fact that he could pass it himself.

READ MORE: Gov. Tate Reeves, after months of resistance, asks lawmakers to pass postpartum Medicaid extension

What’s next?

If Rep. Joey Hood doesn’t call a House Medicaid Committee meeting and pass the Senate bill by midnight on Feb. 28, the measure will die for the second straight year in the House. It is possible (but perhaps unlikely) lawmakers could revive the measure later in the session, which is scheduled to end on April 2.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Mississippi Today

1964: Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was formed

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7 hours ago

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April 26, 2025

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mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-26 07:00:00

by Jerry Mitchell, Mississippi Today
April 26, 2025

April 26, 1964

Aaron Henry testifies before the Credentials Committee at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

Civil rights activists started the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to challenge the state’s all-white regular delegation to the Democratic National Convention. 

The regulars had already adopted this resolution: “We oppose, condemn and deplore the Civil Rights Act of 1964 … We believe in separation of the races in all phases of our society. It is our belief that the separation of the races is necessary for the peace and tranquility of all the people of Mississippi, and the continuing good relationship which has existed over the years.” 

In reality, Black Mississippians had been victims of intimidation, harassment and violence for daring to try and vote as well as laws passed to disenfranchise them. As a result, by 1964, only 6% of Black Mississippians were permitted to vote. A year earlier, activists had run a mock election in which thousands of Black Mississippians showed they would vote if given an opportunity. 

In August 1964, the Freedom Party decided to challenge the all-white delegation, saying they had been illegally elected in a segregated process and had no intention of supporting President Lyndon B. Johnson in the November election. 

The prediction proved true, with white Mississippi Democrats overwhelmingly supporting Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, who opposed the Civil Rights Act. While the activists fell short of replacing the regulars, their courageous stand led to changes in both parties.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Mississippi River flooding Vicksburg, expected to crest on Monday

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April 25, 2025

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mississippitoday.org – @alxrzr – 2025-04-25 16:04:00

by Alex Rozier, Mississippi Today
April 25, 2025

Warren County Emergency Management Director John Elfer said Friday floodwaters from the Mississippi River, which have reached homes in and around Vicksburg, will likely persist until early May. Elfer estimated there areabout 15 to 20 roads underwater in the area.

A truck sits in high water after the owner parked, then boated to his residence on Chickasaw Road in Vicksburg as a rising Mississippi River causes backwater flooding, Friday, April 25, 2025.

“We’re about half a foot (on the river gauge) from a major flood,” he said. “But we don’t think it’s going to be like in 2011, so we can kind of manage this.”

The National Weather projects the river to crest at 49.5 feet on Monday, making it the highest peak at the Vicksburg gauge since 2020. Elfer said some residents in north Vicksburg — including at the Ford Subdivision as well as near Chickasaw Road and Hutson Street — are having to take boats to get home, adding that those who live on the unprotected side of the levee are generally prepared for flooding.

A rising Mississippi River causing backwater flooding near Chickasaw Road in Vicksburg, Friday, April 25, 2025.
Old tires aligned a backyard as a deterrent to rising water north of Vicksburg along U.S. 61, Friday, April 25, 2025.
As the Mississippi River rises, backwater flooding creeps towards a home located on Falk Steel Road in Vicksburg, Friday, April 25, 2025.

“There are a few (inundated homes), but we’ve mitigated a lot of them,” he said. “Some of the structures have been torn down or raised. There are a few people that still live on the wet side of the levee, but they kind of know what to expect. So we’re not too concerned with that.”

The river first reached flood stage in the city — 43 feet — on April 14. State officials closed Highway 465, which connects the Eagle Lake community just north of Vicksburg to Highway 61, last Friday.

Flood waters along Kings Point Road in Vicksburg, Friday, April 25, 2025.

Elfer said the areas impacted are mostly residential and he didn’t believe any businesses have been affected, emphasizing that downtown Vicksburg is still safe for visitors. He said Warren County has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to secure pumps and barriers.

“Everybody thus far has been very cooperative,” he said. “We continue to tell people stay out of the flood areas, don’t drive around barricades and don’t drive around road close signs. Not only is it illegal, it’s dangerous.”

NWS projects the river to stay at flood stage in Vicksburg until May 6. The river reached its record crest of 57.1 feet in 2011.

The boat launch area is closed and shored up on Levee Street in Vicksburg as the Mississippi River rises, Friday, April 25, 2025.
The boat launch area (right) is closed and under water on Levee Street in Vicksburg as the Mississippi River rises, Friday, April 25, 2025.
City of Vicksburg workers shore up the bank along Levee Street as the Mississippi River rises, Friday, April 25, 2025.
The old pedestrian bridge spanning the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Friday, April 25, 2025.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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With domestic violence law, victims ‘will be a number with a purpose,’ mother says

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23 hours ago

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April 25, 2025

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mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-25 15:07:00

by Mina Corpuz, Mississippi Today
April 25, 2025

Joslin Napier. Carlos Collins. Bailey Mae Reed. 

They are among Mississippi domestic violence homicide victims whose family members carried their photos as the governor signed a bill that will establish a board to study such deaths and how to prevent them. 

Tara Gandy, who lost her daughter Napier in Waynesboro in 2022, said it’s a moment she plans to tell her 5-year-old grandson about when he is old enough. Napier’s presence, in spirit, at the bill signing can be another way for her grandson to feel proud of his mother. 

“(The board) will allow for my daughter and those who have already lost their lives to domestic violence … to no longer be just a number,” Gandy said. “They will be a number with a purpose.” 

Family members at the April 15 private bill signing included Ashla Hudson, whose son Collins, died last year in Jackson. Grandparents Mary and Charles Reed and brother Colby Kernell attended the event in honor of Bailey Mae Reed, who died in Oxford in 2023. 

Joining them were staff and board members from the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the statewide group that supports shelters and advocated for the passage of Senate Bill 2886 to form a Domestic Violence Facility Review Board. 

The law will go into effect July 1, and the coalition hopes to partner with elected officials who will make recommendations for members to serve on the board. The coalition wants to see appointees who have frontline experience with domestic violence survivors, said Luis Montgomery, public policy specialist for the coalition. 

A spokesperson from Gov. Tate Reeves’ office did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Establishment of the board would make Mississippi the 45th state to review domestic violence fatalities. 

Montgomery has worked on passing a review board bill since December 2023. After an unsuccessful effort in 2024, the coalition worked to build support and educate people about the need for such a board. 

In the recent legislative session, there were House and Senate versions of the bill that unanimously passed their respective chambers. Authors of the bills are from both political parties. 

The review board is tasked with reviewing a variety of documents to learn about the lead up and circumstances in which people died in domestic violence-related fatalities, near fatalities and suicides – records that can include police records, court documents, medical records and more. 

From each review, trends will emerge and that information can be used for the board to make recommendations to lawmakers about how to prevent domestic violence deaths. 

“This is coming at a really great time because we can really get proactive,” Montgomery said. 

Without a board and data collection, advocates say it is difficult to know how many people have died or been injured in domestic-violence related incidents.

A Mississippi Today analysis found at least 300 people, including victims, abusers and collateral victims, died from domestic violence between 2020 and 2024. That analysis came from reviewing local news stories, the Gun Violence Archive, the National Gun Violence Memorial, law enforcement reports and court documents. 

Some recent cases the board could review are the deaths of Collins, Napier and Reed. 

In court records, prosecutors wrote that Napier, 24, faced increased violence after ending a relationship with Chance Fabian Jones. She took action, including purchasing a firearm and filing for a protective order against Jones.

Jones’s trial is set for May 12 in Wayne County. His indictment for capital murder came on the first anniversary of her death, according to court records. 

Collins, 25, worked as a nurse and was from Yazoo City. His ex-boyfriend Marcus Johnson has been indicted for capital murder and shooting into Collins’ apartment. Family members say Collins had filed several restraining orders against Johnson. 

Johnson was denied bond and remains in jail. His trial is scheduled for July 28 in Hinds County.  

He was a Jackson police officer for eight months in 2013. Johnson was separated from the department pending disciplinary action leading up to immediate termination, but he resigned before he was fired, Jackson police confirmed to local media. 

Reed, 21, was born and raised in Michigan and moved to Water Valley to live with her grandparents and help care for her cousin, according to her obituary. 

Kylan Jacques Phillips was charged with first degree murder for beating Reed, according to court records. In February, the court ordered him to undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial, according to court documents. 

At the bill signing, Gandy said it was bittersweet and an honor to meet the families of other domestic violence homicide victims.

“We were there knowing we are not alone, we can travel this road together and hopefully find ways to prevent and bring more awareness about domestic violence,” she said.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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