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Friday, February 28, 2025

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Trump's promise of 'very big deal' with Zelensky undercut by officials' widespread doubts over Ukraine's resources; Faith leaders call out inhumane heat conditions in U.S. prisons; Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change; the state of animal waste regulations in Virginia.

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Senate Republicans say they'll change the House's budget resolution. Trump questions whether he called the Ukrainian president a 'dictator' ahead of his White House visit, and environmental groups question EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's call for deregulation.

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The federal funding freeze has left U.S. farmers in limbo about their future farm projects, tourists could find public lands in disarray when visiting this summer, while money to fight rural wildfires is in jeopardy.

Path to Medicaid expansion in MS remains uncertain

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Friday, January 31, 2025   

As Mississippi lawmakers move forward with a potential Medicaid expansion, advocates said the state cannot afford further delays while thousands remain without health care.

Two so-called "dummy bills" are advancing through the House and Senate Medicaid committees, but the policy remains in limbo as legislators wait for clarity from Washington, D.C.

Kimberly Campbell, state director for AARP Mississippi, has been working on Medicaid expansion for several years and said the fight is far from over.

"There still needs to be some more discussions to figure out how can we get something that moves the state forward as far as access to health care," Campbell emphasized. "Access to quality health care for more individuals than we have now that are covered under any type of health program."

Mississippi is one of 10 states to have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving an estimated 125,000 Mississippians without access to affordable health care. While last year's legislative session saw historic movement, expansion failed in the final hours as House and Senate leaders clashed over the details.

Advocates like Campbell argue expanding Medicaid would have far-reaching effects, including boosting the state's economy, strengthening rural hospitals and improving public health.

"Mississippi, unfortunately, we have some of the worst health outcomes here in the state," Campbell pointed out. "That would change a lot of those things. That would change our life span, and not only just the years of life but the quality of the years of life."

Gov. Tate Reeves remains firmly opposed to expanding Medicaid in Mississippi. In his recent State of the State address, he reaffirmed his stance against broadening coverage, citing concerns potential federal policy changes under President Donald Trump's administration could increase state costs for expanded welfare programs.

Reeves has consistently referred to Medicaid expansion as "welfare" and has resisted efforts to increase enrollment, despite growing support from key Republican legislative leaders.

Disclosure: AARP Mississippi contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Community Issues and Volunteering, Health Issues, and Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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