Democrats Keep Hammering Medicaid Expansion While Tate Reeves Says And Does Nothing 

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October 30, 2023                 

Democrats Keep Hammering Medicaid Expansion While Tate Reeves Says And Does Nothing 

Jackson, MS – The Mississippi Democratic Party wrapped the ‘Save Our Hospital’ tour last week with state Democratic leadership blasting Reeves at the state capitol. Democratic state legislators along with local leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and faith leaders across Mississippi held a series of events to highlight the state’s hospital crisis. The tour stretched from Greenville to Gulfport and made stops in Jackson, Tupelo, Hattiesburg, and more.

From Batesville to Biloxi,  Mississippi’s hospital crisis has devastated families and communities. In September, Greenwood Leflore Hospital went up for lease for the second time in two years and hospital administrators said that the hospital only has enough cash to pay employees through September. KPC Promise Hospital in Vicksburg announced it has closed and in July, North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo announced around 100 people were laid off. In June, St. Dominic’s Hospital closed its entire behavioral health unit, laying off 157 workers, and filling the psychiatric beds at nearby hospitals. In March, Mississippi’s first rural emergency hospital, Alliance Healthcare System, announced they were ending inpatient care in order to try and keep their doors open and last year, The Delta lost its only neonatal intensive care unit. In Gulfport, Gulfport Memorial Hospital laid off 90 employees. 

Tate Reeves’ refusal to expand Medicaid has left nearly half (34) of the state’s 74 hospitals to be at risk of closing with 25 of those being at risk of immediate closure. In contrast on day one, Brandon Presley will expand Medicaid and provide healthcare for more than 220,000 working Mississippians.

Read more from the Save Our Hospitals tour: 

Mississippi Today: Democrats keep hammering Gov. Tate Reeves for refusing Medicaid expansion

10/25/23

Less than two weeks before the Nov. 7 statewide election, top Democratic leaders are continuing to pound the drum on Mississippi’s hospital crisis and the need for state officials to expand Medicaid coverage to the working poor. 

Speaking on the front steps of the state Capitol on Wednesday morning, three Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized Republican Gov. Tate Reeves for standing in the way of expansion, which experts estimate would generate billions for the state.

“He’ll tell you over and over that it’s Mississippi’s time,” House Minority Leader Robert Johnson III said. “For who, governor? Who are you talking about? You and your donors? Because I don’t think the people in my district and community will describe what they see as Mississippi momentum.” 

Reeves’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but the governor has said in previous remarks that he remains opposed to expansion and derisively calls the proposal “welfare expansion.” The governor’s Democratic challenger Brandon Presley, meanwhile, has made health care one of the major themes of his campaign platform and has promised to expand Medicaid on “day one” that he’s sworn into office.

Almost half of Mississippi’s rural hospitals are at risk of closure, according to one report. Many financially struggling hospitals cite major losses on uncompensated care, or services provided to people without health insurance coverage — emergency rooms by law cannot turn patients away, regardless of their coverage status. 

Mississippi’s hospitals lose about $600 million on uncompensated care annually. Hospital leaders say Medicaid expansion would greatly reduce the amount of uncompensated care they provide.

[...]

But Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, told Mississippi Today on Wednesday that Reeves’ previous effort is not sufficient in the long run, calling the effort “too little, too Tate” as a play on the governor’s first name. 

“Based on my understanding of this proposal, it’s only going to be a one-time fix or not a solution to a long-term problem,” Simmons said. “And the real solution that is clear is Medicaid expansion to give hospitals the relief they need and also to help those 200,000 working Mississippians.” 

[...]

But the trio of legislators on Wednesday said if Presley, the Democrat challenging Reeves, defeats the incumbent and flips the Governor’s Mansion, then some of the GOP holdouts might come around to the idea of expansion.

Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, believes the coordinated message around expansion and the hospital crisis will be different this year and translate into actual results at the ballot box next month. 

WJTV (CBS): Roundtable discussion focuses on saving Mississippi hospitals

10/19/23

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi’s hospital crisis was front and center during a roundtable discussion on Thursday, October 19.

State Senator Sollie Norwood (D-District 28), educators and healthcare professionals discussed the hospital crisis at the Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center (JHCHC).

Organizers said with more than 20 hospitals closing in Mississippi, the state could face some serious problems.

“They get in a situation where there’s almost a fatality, get shot or anything like that, they got to come to Jackson or somewhere else to get service. And then what happened is you driving 45 or 50 miles or 60 miles, and that’s a risk,” said Johnny Baskin, who attended the event.

[...]

“The $1 billion a year that our state would have been afforded, those moneys still are not exempt and it’s not going to be an impact on our state, because state economists are saying that it’s not going to negatively impact the state. It’s going to provide jobs, it’s going to provide better quality of health care throughout throughout the state. And most importantly, it’s going to save lives. And this is not a welfare program,” said Norwood.

Jackson Advocate: Summers blasts Reeves’ actions affecting state’s under-resourced

10/11/23

JANS – On October 9, 2023, State Rep. Zakiya Summers and healthcare professionals sent warnings of hospital depredation as Tate Reeves refuses to expand Medicaid. In June, St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson closed its entire behavioral health unit, laying off 157 workers – the psychiatric beds at nearby hospitals became full. Last month, the CDC released a report that Mississippi’s suicide rate has reached its highest level in 20 years. 

Unfortunately, St. Dominic’s Hospital is not the only healthcare facility that has been forced to make some very difficult decisions. In South Jackson, Merit Hospital has moved the majority of its services out of the city of Jackson, but this is not a problem unique to the city. In September, four more hospitals announced plans to end inpatient care. 

According to Rep. Summers, Mississippi state health officials have equated this move to a hospital closure because “when key services are lost, communities lose access to that care. And the effects are far-reaching, putting Mississippians and entire communities at risk.”For areas with high concentrations of Black Mississippians, like Jackson and up in the Delta, this issue is exacerbated.

[...]

“We can all agree that the value of healthcare access in Mississippi cannot be underestimated. Yet, under our current administration, we are watching hospitals and medical facilities lay off hundreds of workers; dozens are on the brink of closure. Women and babies are dying,” stressed Summers. “Congenital syphilis has spiked through the roof. Mississippians are losing their lives because they cannot get to a hospital in time to receive critical care. Mississippi should not be in last place for health outcomes.

“We can do better. We have to do better. On day one, Brandon Presley will expand Medicaid and provide healthcare for 220,000 working Mississippians.”

WCBI (CBS): Group members calling for Medicaid expansion make stop in Tupelo9/6/23

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A group aligned with the Democrat Party of Mississippi is calling for an expansion of Medicaid in the state.

The organization known as “Save Our Hospitals” made a stop in Tupelo for a news conference. Members of the group are calling on the governor and Republican leaders to expand Medicaid.

They claim that would free up $1 billion that could help low-income Mississippians, along with rural hospitals throughout the state.

State Representative Rickey Thompson said expanding Medicaid would benefit all Mississippians.

“Right now we have an excess of $1 billion if we expand so that will be part of the money we can use, along with working across the aisle to make sure it is sustainable, not a burden on the state,” said Thompson. “When you look at the $1 billion we are missing for not expanding, that’s something we have to think about and consider, how can we take advantage of that for Mississippians that do not have health insurance.”

The group made several stops across the state as part of the “Save our Hospitals” tour.

“Tate Reeves said things have never been better, but the truth is our hospitals are closing,” State House Minority Leader, Robert L. Johnson III

“This hospital crisis has been going on for years. This isn’t something that just bubbled out of nowhere,” State Rep. Zakiya Summers

“I want to see a healthcare system that wins and provides services for all,” State Rep. John Hines Sr.

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About Mississippi Democratic Party:

The Mississippi Democratic Party is dedicated to advancing progressive values, fostering inclusive policies, and promoting equal representation for all Mississippians. As the state's leading Democratic organization, we work tirelessly to build a strong and diverse coalition, advocate for meaningful change, and support Democratic candidates who champion social justice, economic fairness, and access to quality healthcare and education. Together, we strive to create a brighter future for Mississippi by ensuring that every voice is heard and every vote counts.