Poll: Mississippians and politicians at odds over marijuana, Medicaid
The poll also reported that 52% of Mississippians support expanding Medicaid to cover roughly 200,000 working poor Mississippians. A move to put this before voters was also derailed by the recent Supreme Court ruling that declared the state’s ballot initiative process constitutionally flawed because of outdated signature gathering rules.Mississippi Today, Read More.
Mississippi has returned or rejected nearly 872,000 COVID-19 vaccines due to low demand
Mississippi continues to rank last in the nation in the share of its population that has been vaccinated. Less than 30% of Mississippians have been fully vaccinated despite significant gains made in recent months in vaccinating the most vulnerable and making vaccine access moreequitable. Mississippi Today, Read More.
Standstill on Medicaid expansion leaves poor Georgians without coverage
Kelly Stewart hasn’t had health insurance in years. In most states, she would qualify for Medicaid, even with her occasional – and modest – earnings as an in-home caregiver.But not in Georgia.Unlike 38 other states and the District of Columbia, Georgia still refuses to expand Medicaid eligibility to most of its poor residents under the Affordable Care Act, despite new financial incentives offered by President Joe Biden’s administration.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Read More.
More than 51,000 Oklahomans have been approved for benefits through Medicaid expansion
More than 51,000 Oklahomans have been approved for health benefits through Medicaid expansion less than a week after applications opened. That’s over a quarter of the 200,000 Oklahomans expected to enroll for benefits in the first year of expanded Medicaid. Data shared Friday morning by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority showed that 51,708 residents have been approved for benefits through SoonerCare, the state’s Medicaid program, since applications opened on Tuesday. Over 33,000 — about 65% — are women.The Oklahoman, Read More.
Expanding Insurance Coverage Is Top Priority for New Medicare-Medicaid Chief
The new head of the federal agency that oversees health benefits for nearly 150 million Americans and $1 trillion in federal spending said in one of her first interviews that her top priorities will be broadening insurance coverage and ensuring health equity. “We’ve seen through the pandemic what happens when people don’t have health insurance and how important it is,” said Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on May 25 and sworn in on May 27. “Our focus is going to be on making sure regulations and policies are going to be focused on improving coverage.”KHN, Read More.