Report ranks Mississippi last in the nation for health system performance during pandemic

A new report from The Commonwealth Fund ranked Mississippi last in the nation for health system performance.

States Extend Medicaid for New Mothers — Even as They Reject Broader Expansion

Until last year, Georgia’s Medicaid coverage for new moms with low incomes lasted 60 days.

Mississippi officials did what South Dakota leaders couldn’t — block Medicaid expansion

The South Dakota Republican leadership, like many of their counterparts in Mississippi, oppose accepting federal funds to provide health insurance for primarily the working poor.

Influential Delta business group calls for Medicaid expansion

A major economic development organization that represents the 19 Mississippi Delta counties on Monday called for lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

Medical marijuana offered promise of relief. But not for him.

William Pittman eagerly lent his signature to legalize medical marijuana, something his psychiatrist thought could help treat his borderline personality disorder, binge eating disorder and ADHD.

‘It makes it hard to work’: The real cost of not expanding Medicaid in Mississippi

Briana Wright has worked all her adult life. The 27-year-old Kosciusko resident has been a crew member at McDonald’s for three years. Wright is stuck in what is commonly referred to as the healthcare coverage gap.

Republican legislators oppose Medicaid expansion, but want federal dollars to pay for prisoner healthcare

State Republicans have balked at expanding Medicaid, but are embracing legislation that would take advantage of the federal program to pay for healthcare for very sick incarcerated people — and likely create a money-making opportunity for nursing homes.

Mississippi insurers agree to commissioner’s plea to continue telemedicine coverage when state of emergency ends

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has secured crucial support from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, the largest health insurer in the state, to continue covering telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits.

Federal law says insurers must cover outpatient mental health care. But Mississippi decides not for its state employees

Postpartum depression left Julie Seawright of Tupelo crying hysterically in her bathtub after the birth of her first child.

She turned to her state-employee insurance plan to cover out-patient treatment to see her through the crisis.

She was out of luck.

‘Trust, But Verify’: Judge Orders Monitor For State Mental Health System, Adopts Recommendations ‘In Full’

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves submitted his ruling on the tumultuous lawsuit over Mississippi’s mental health-care system late last night, mandating the appointment of an external monitor to verify progress toward constitutional treatment of residents.

‘How Much Is Enough?’ State, Feds Debate Mental Health System

Parties to a long-debated lawsuit against Mississippi’s mental health-care system made their final appeals to U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on Monday, setting the stage for his judgment on how Mississippi will mend its community mental-health offerings in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.