Mississippi Today

Governor’s allies on advisory board thwart effort to give poor moms timely health care

Published

1 year ago

December 11, 2023

The state Medicaid director and a hospital CEO — neither of them doctors — bucked recommendations from health care professionals and delayed a vote that could have made it easier for expecting Mississippians to receive timely prenatal care.

The move comes just days after the release of a maternal mortality report that shows Mississippi is still one of the most dangerous places in the country to give birth.

The Mississippi Medical Care Advisory Committee heard presentations from Dr. Anita Henderson, former president of the state pediatric association, and Dr. Jaleen Sims, a Jackson-based OB-GYN. The two said at the committee’s Friday meeting that establishing pregnancy presumptive eligibility for Medicaid could make it easier to receive timely prenatal care in Mississippi.

The committee —made up of 11 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House — is tasked by state law to advise the Division of Medicaid, which covers most births in Mississippi. The committee’s recommendation to the state Legislature this past year to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage was influential in the legislation’s subsequent passage.

Medicaid Director Drew Snyder, appointed by former Gov. Phil Bryant and reappointed by Gov. Tate Reeves, has opposed Medicaid expansion and was reluctant to endorse expanding postpartum care to mothers despite the urging of doctors this past year, in line with Reeves. On Friday, Snyder urged the committee to hold off on recommending presumptive Medicaid eligibility for expectant mothers. Kent Nicaud, a hospital CEO who is a strong political supporter of Reeves, aided Snyder in the effort by amending a motion that would have recommended the policy’s adoption.

Pregnancy presumptive eligibility allows people to receive health care when they’re pregnant, even if they’re not on Medicaid because it’s presumed that they qualify.

It’s an important step to reducing barriers to timely care. It can be complicated to get pregnancy Medicaid coverage, and those complications can mean the difference between a preventable pregnancy-related death and a safe delivery.

Though Medicaid policy states a person can qualify by simply attesting they are pregnant, most doctors and expecting people are under the impression a pregnancy test from a health care provider is required to be covered. Sims previously told Mississippi Today that despite the division’s policy, her patients applying for Medicaid have been asked for further confirmation to verify they’re pregnant.

That means Mississippians generally must pay out-of-pocket for a doctor’s pregnancy test test because they’re not presumed eligible for Medicaid. Then they must wait for their Medicaid application to be approved to receive care, unless they’re willing to continue paying out-of-pocket. Some doctors won’t even see them before they’re insured.

The division does retroactively reimburse prenatal care after applications are approved, but Matt Westerfield, spokesperson for the Division of Medicaid, told Mississippi Today last year that it takes the agency about 24 days to approve pregnancy applications.

Following the doctors’ presentations at the committee meeting, State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney made a motion for the committee to recommend the adoption of pregnancy presumptive eligibility to the Legislature or the division.

“Give these women a chance to have their babies,” Edney said. “Why wouldn’t we do it if we’re in such a crisis?”

After the motion was seconded, however, Snyder spoke up in opposition.

“Twenty minutes of discussion from two presenters is not enough on this complex issue,” Snyder said. “Rather than saying, ‘Let’s do everything we can,’ let’s do what’s smart and what works and what’s actually connected to improving outcomes.”

Snyder, an attorney, asked the committee if the division could consider and research the policy and return to the committee with their findings.

Dr. Billy Long, a gastroenterologist based in Madison, then expressed confusion about who had the power to establish the policy.

“I thought I heard you say, ‘Medicaid could not make this decision,’” he said to Snyder.

Snyder replied, “That’s correct, we need to send this to the Legislature,” and then immediately declined to get into the “nuances.”

It’s not clear what agency has the power to establish presumptive eligibility. Snyder, appointed Medicaid director by former Gov. Phil Bryant and reappointed by Reeves, has said previously that the Division of Medicaid wouldn’t utilize pregnancy presumptive eligibility unless directed to by the Legislature. Westerfield previously told Mississippi Today that position is to avoid paying “providers for services for women who subsequently would not qualify for Medicaid.”

Nicaud then suggested that Medicaid bring more information to the committee at a special meeting in January and repeatedly stressed that “educating” patients might be more helpful to improving outcomes for mothers and babies in Mississippi than presumptive eligibility.

Nicaud, who also doesn’t have a medical degree, is the president and CEO of Gulfport’s Memorial Health System and has donated almost $125,000 to Reeves since 2017.

Nicaud encouraged Edney to modify his motion, which Edney declined to do.

“We endorse the concept of presumptive eligibility unless there’s a reason we cannot,” Edney said. “If there’s an extra meeting, I’d be happy to attend.”

Nicaud then amended Edney’s motion to call a special meeting to discuss presumptive eligibility further and then make the committee’s recommendation to the division or Legislature.

Following the meeting, Snyder quickly left the Capitol chamber where the meeting was held and refused to take questions.

Henderson later expressed disappointment about the committee’s decision.

“Personally, I think it’s a no brainer,” she said. “I think this is an issue everyone should be on board with. If the rest of the country is, why aren’t we?”

Mississippi is one of 21 states as of January 2020 that doesn’t offer presumptive eligibility for pregnant people, according to KFF, and Mississippi is one of just three states that has not expanded Medicaid nor established presumptive eligibility.

According to a study commissioned with the University of Mississippi Center for Population Studies by the Center for Mississippi Health Policy, preterm births are less likely for low-income people when they live in a state with presumptive eligibility and expanded Medicaid.

Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, and Sen. Nicole Boyd, R-Oxford, say they will co-author a bill this upcoming Legislative session about presumptive eligibility for pregnant women. A previous attempt to establish presumptive eligibility by Rep. Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg, did not make it out of committee this past session.

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

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Mississippi Today

On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson broke MLB color barrier

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2025

Staff Editor

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

by Jerry Mitchell, Mississippi Today
April 15, 2025

April 15, 1947

Jackie Robinson became the first Black baseball player in the Major Leagues when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier in Major League Baseball, becoming the first Black player in the 20^th century.

Born in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson lettered in four sports at UCLA – football, basketball, baseball and track. After time in the military, he played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. After his success there, Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed Robinson, and the legendary baseball player started for Montreal, where he integrated the International League.

In addition to his Hall of Fame career, he was active in the civil rights movement and became the first Black TV analyst in Major League Baseball and the first Black vice president of a major American corporation.

In recognition of his achievements, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Major League Baseball retired his number “42,” which became the title of the movie about his breakthrough.

Ken Burns’ four-hour documentary reveals that Robinson did more than just break the color barrier — he became a leader for equal rights for all Americans.

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

Mississippi Today

Mississippians highlight Black Maternal Health Week

Published

2 days ago

April 14, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-14 14:04:00

by Sophia Paffenroth, Mississippi Today
April 14, 2025

Advocates and health care leaders joined lawmakers Monday morning at the Capitol to recognize Black Maternal Health Week, which started Friday.

The group was highlighting the racial disparities that persist in the delivery room, with Black women three times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

“The bond between a mother and her baby is worth protecting,” said Cassandra Welchlin, executive director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable.

Rep. Timaka James-Jones, D-Belzoni, spoke about her niece Harmony, who suffered from preeclampsia and died on the side of the road in 2021 along with her unborn baby, three miles from the closest hospital in Yazoo City.

“It’s utterly important that stories are shared – but realize these are not just stories. This is real life,” she said.

The tragedy inspired James-Jones to become a lawmaker. She says she is working on gaining support to appropriate the funds needed to build a standalone emergency room in Belzoni.

But it isn’t just emergency medical care that’s lacking for some mothers. Mental health conditions are a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, defined as deaths up to one year postpartum from associated causes.

And more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are deemed preventable – making the issue ripe for policy change, advocates said.

State Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, speaks during a press conference recognizing Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025.
State Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, speaks during a press conference recognizing Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025. Summers joined community advocates, healthcare leaders and organizations to call attention to the state’s Black maternal health crisis and urge legislative action to improve outcomes.
Cassandra Welchlin, executive director of the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, speaks during a press conference for Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Advocates stand behind speakers during a press conference at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025. The event, which recognized Black Maternal Health Week, brought together healthcare leaders, community organizations, and lawmakers to raise awareness about Mississippi’s Black maternal health crisis and demand equitable policy solutions.
Lauren Jones, founder of Mom.ME, speaks during a press conference for Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Nakeitra L. Burse, CEO of Six Dimensions, speaks during a press conference for Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Robin Jackson, director of policy advocacy at the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, speaks during a press conference for Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025.
State Rep. Timaka James-Jones shares the story of her late niece, Harmony Ball-Stribling, during a press conference for Black Maternal Health Week at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Monday, April 14, 2025.

“About 20 years ago, I was almost a statistic,” said Lauren Jones, a mother who founded Mom.Me, a nonprofit seeking to normalize the struggles of motherhood through community support. “I contemplated taking my life, I severely suffered from postpartum depression … None of my physicians told me that the head is connected to the body while pregnant.”

With studies showing “mounting disparities” in women’s health across the United States – and Mississippi scoring among the worst overall – more action is needed to halt and reverse the inequities, those at the press conference said.

The Mississippi Legislature passed four bills related to maternal health between 2018 and 2023, according to a study by researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

“How many times are we going to have to come before committees like this to share the statistics before the statistics become a solution?” Jones asked.

A bill that would require health care providers to offer postpartum depression screenings to mothers is pending approval from the governor.

Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, the organizer of the press conference, commended the Legislature for passing presumptive eligibility for pregnant women this year. The policy will allow women to receive health care covered by Medicaid as soon as they find out they are pregnant – even if their Medicaid application is still pending. It was spearheaded by Rep. Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg.

Summers also thanked Rep. Kevin Felsher, R-Biloxi, for pushing paid parental leave for state employees through the finish line this year.

Speakers emphasized the importance of focusing Black Maternal Health Week not just on mitigating deaths but on celebrating one of life’s most vulnerable and meaningful events.

“Black Maternal Health Week is a celebration of life, since Black women don’t often get those opportunities to celebrate,” said Nakeitra Burse, executive director of Six Dimensions, a minority women-owned public health research agency. “We go into our labor and delivery and pregnancy with fear – of the unknown, fear of how we’ll be taken care of, and just overall uncertainty about the outcomes.”

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

Mississippi Today

Trump to appoint two Northern District MS judges after Aycock takes senior status

Published

3 days ago

April 14, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-14 11:01:00

by Taylor Vance, Mississippi Today
April 14, 2025

Judge Sharion Aycock

President Donald Trump can now appoint two new judges to the federal bench in the Northern District of Mississippi.

U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock announced recently that she was taking senior status effective April 15. This means she will still hear cases as a judge but will have a reduced caseload.

“I have been so fortunate during my entire legal career,” Aycock said in a statement. “As one of only a few women graduating in my law school class, I had the chance to break ground for the female practitioner.”

A native of Itawamba County, Aycock graduated from Tremont High School and Mississippi State University. She received her law degree from Mississippi College, where she graduated second in her class.

Throughout her legal career, she blazed many trails for women practicing law and female jurists. She began her career as a judge when she was elected as a Mississippi Circuit Court judge in northeast Mississippi in 2002, the first woman ever elected to that judicial district.

She held that position until President George W. Bush in 2007 appointed her to the federal bench. After the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed her, she became the first woman confirmed to the federal judiciary in Mississippi.

This makes Aycock the second judge to take senior status in four years. U.S. District Judge Michael Mills announced in 2021 that he was taking senior status, but the U.S. Senate still has not confirmed someone to replace him.

President Joe Biden appointed state prosecutor Scott Colom to fill Mills’ vacancy in 2023. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker approved Colom’s appointment, but U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked his confirmation through a practice known as “blue slips,” where senators can block the confirmation of judicial appointees in their home state.

This means President Trump will now have the opportunity to appoint two federal judges to lifetime appointments to the Northern District. U.S. District Judge Debra Brown will soon be the only active federal judge serving in the district. Aycock, Mills, and U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson will all be senior-status judges.

Federal district judges provide crucial work to the federal courts through presiding over major criminal and civil trials and applying rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals in the local districts.

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