JACKSON — Mississippi’s Medicaid director on Thursday sent hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers a list of proposed cuts designed to save $90 million in the coming budget year.
It’s the latest development in a political tussle between Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and the Democratic-led state House of Representatives.
In a letter to the providers, Medicaid director Robert Robinson blamed the House for not acting on a hospital tax plan endorsed by the governor and the Mississippi Hospital Association.
“The Mississippi House of Representatives has consistently refused to support MHA, Medicaid, the Mississippi Senate and the Governor in our efforts to resolve this very serious problem, which demands a fair, permanent, sustainable solution,” Robinson wrote.
The letter was released about the same time House Speaker Billy McCoy issued his own news release saying he wants to sit down with Barbour and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant to try to negotiate a solution for Medicaid. The new state fiscal year starts July 1.
McCoy, D-Rienzi, said he was “appalled” and “saddened” by Robinson’s letter.
“I’m sure it’s not criminal, but it’s terribly inhumane and unnecessary and creates an awful lot of unease among our most vulnerable. It shows a lack of compassion,” McCoy told The Associated Press.
Lawmakers are on break from a special session that started late last month, and Barbour is trying to pressure the House to accept his plan to plug the $90 million Medicaid budget hole by restructuring the taxes hospitals pay.
The Senate has passed Barbour’s plan, but some House members fear it would force hospitals to pass increased costs on to patients with private insurance.
When it became clear two weeks ago that his plan was stalled in the House, Barbour said he would tell Medicaid officials to draft a list of proposed cuts — most of which would affect hospitals.
Robinson’s letter gives three lists of proposed cuts for hospitals, nursing homes and other Medicaid services and asks providers to tell him by June 20 which list they prefer.
MHA president and CEO Sam Cameron said Thursday that his choice is “none of the above.”
He said hospitals caring for large numbers of Medicaid patients might have to cut staff or services.
“I am not going to say it will be the death knell of hospitals, but it will put some of them in a very precarious situation,” Cameron said.
The governor’s tax plan has been publicly endorsed by MHA, but the association’s leaders also have said they’d prefer to see an increase in cigarette taxes, which are among the lowest in the nation.
House leaders have tried unsuccessfully to increase cigarette and liquor taxes to help pay for Medicaid, a health care program for the needy, aged, blind and disabled and for low-income families with children. About one of every four Mississippians is enrolled in the program.
McCoy said he wants to meet with Barbour and Bryant next week. Lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol June 26 to continue the special session. Barbour spokesman Pete Smith said that within the governor plans to meet with McCoy.
Local News
Medicaid releases list of proposed budget cuts
- Local News
-
-
PAINTING HYDRANTS
Firefighters with Picayune Fire Department conduct regular maintenance on the city’s many fire hydrants, such as giving them a fresh coat of paint.
-
Two charged with making meth around kids
Two parents were arrested for allegedly making and possessing methamphetamine, while their children were in the home.
-
Unemployment rate down slightly
Pearl River County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly between March and April of this year.
-
PMHS GRADUATION
Picayune Memorial High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Jared Christopher Bates, left, and salutatorian Bryce Austin Warden gave their speeches.
-
POPLARVILLE GRADUATION
Poplarville High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Rebecca Starke, left, and salutatorian Meagan Whitworth gave their speeches to the graduating class, parents and friends.
-
Local man paralyzed by juvenile shooting
Medical personnel were teaching a local man how to swallow again on Saturday after his spinal cord was severed by a .22 caliber bullet, fired by one of three juveniles, on Thursday.
-
Potential bridge replacement fund shortage draws discussion
Despite a lengthy agenda for Pearl River County supervisors Wednesday the board handled many of the items with a straight up and down 5-0 vote.
-
Glade Woods dies
Funeral services for Earl Glade Woods , 75 of Picayune, are Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Picayune. Woods passed away on Friday.
-
MHP on patrol for holiday
Even though there has been a remarkable reduction in the number of fatalities in Mississippi over the past seven years, last year’s Memorial Day Weekend was particularly deadly.
-
POLICE MEMORIAL
City employees were out at the Picayune Police Department memorial Thursday morning doing some upgrades to it.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
