Mississippi Today
FAQ: What is postpartum Medicaid extension, exactly?
FAQ: What is postpartum Medicaid extension, exactly?
Postpartum Medicaid extension is the talk of Mississippi politics this week, with lawmakers, statewide officials and candidates debating the merits of passing the policy designed to help mothers after they give birth.
Lawmakers face a key deadline this week to keep the proposed policy alive, and there is much disagreement about whether it’s right for Mississippi. There have been several rallies and press conferences at the state Capitol this session focused on the issue, and it will continue to emerge as a key theme of the 2023 election cycle.
We’ve compiled answers to some frequently asked questions to help you understand what it is, what it isn’t, and how its potential passage could impact Mississippians.
What is postpartum Medicaid extension, exactly?
Postpartum Medicaid extension is proposed legislation to extend the length of health care coverage for Mississippians on Medicaid who give birth. Postpartum visits can include care of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as mental health issues that might arise after giving birth, such as postpartum depression.
Federal law mandates that states provide postpartum Medicaid coverage for at least 60 days, which is the current limit in Mississippi. After 60 days, most Medicaid patients lose postpartum health care coverage, and this period of time is often most deadly for mothers. Most states, however, have passed measures to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to one full year post-birth — which is what the currently proposed Mississippi legislation would do.
READ MORE: Senate votes to extend postpartum care. Here’s what the bill would do.
Would postpartum Medicaid extension provide cash directly to mothers?
No. Mississippi opting into the program would simply send additional federal funds to the state’s Division of Medicaid, which would then reimburse health care providers directly for any care they provide to qualified mothers. Many politicians, however, have tried to equate Medicaid programs — including the postpartum Medicaid extension — with direct cash assistance in efforts to sow discontent among those opposed to more government spending.
Is postpartum care extension the same thing as Medicaid expansion?
No, postpartum Medicaid extension is not the same thing as Medicaid expansion, despite what prominent elected officials and candidates have said. The proposed postpartum extension would simply extend the length of time Mississippians who already qualify can access postpartum services. Medicaid expansion, which has never been seriously considered by Mississippi’s legislative leaders, would broadly cover health care services for hundreds of thousands of additional Mississippians. “Medicaid expansion,” as it’s commonly referred to by politicians, is a completely separate issue from “postpartum Medicaid extension.”
FAQ: What is Medicaid expansion, really?
What’s the background of this debate, and why does it matter right now?
Mississippi has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and it’s getting worse. The state also has the highest infant mortality rate, preterm birth rate and low birthweight rate in the country. Despite these problems, neonatal ICUs and labor and delivery units continue to close in the state — and the state is expecting thousands more births following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn abortion rights last summer.
Because two-thirds of babies born in Mississippi are born to people on Medicaid, extending postpartum coverage would boost the access to care and health outcomes of thousands of Mississippians, health care officials and researchers say. Doctors, nurses and major medical associations in the state have joined a growing chorus of everyday Mississippi this legislative session calling for postpartum Medicaid extension.
READ MORE: ‘Mississippi moms can’t wait’: Doctors urge legislators to extend postpartum coverage
Who qualifies for postpartum Medicaid coverage?
In Mississippi, pregnant people under 19 years old automatically qualify for pregnancy Medicaid, as well as pregnant people with income under 194% of the federal poverty level, or $2,255 of monthly income for a family of one.
How long are Mississippians who are expecting covered now?
Mississippians on Medicaid have postpartum coverage for two months after giving birth. However, regardless of what postpartum needs they might have beyond 60 days, they lose coverage after that. Research shows that drastic health problems for mothers exist and continue to develop well after two months postpartum.
Have other states extended postpartum Medicaid?
Yes, 29 other states have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year, and seven additional states are planning to offer the extension imminently. States that have also extended postpartum care include contiguous neighbors Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. Mississippi and Wyoming are the only two states that have neither extended postpartum coverage nor expanded Medicaid more broadly.
Why hasn’t it passed yet in Mississippi?
Though the Mississippi Senate has passed postpartum Medicaid extension four times in two years (and most recently on Feb. 7 of this year), the legislation has been killed by the House of Representatives — and specifically, by Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. The House Medicaid Committee appears to not have met once this session, an important note considering the postpartum Medicaid extension legislation must pass through that committee to go into effect.
READ MORE: Pressure grows for lawmakers to pass postpartum Medicaid extension
The chair of the House Medicaid Committee, Rep. Joey Hood, refused to answer last week when asked about whether his committee will meet or take up the Senate bill. Gov. Tate Reeves, who has for months voiced his opposition to the legislation, reversed course and urged lawmakers to pass it on Feb. 26. As recently as Feb. 22, Gunn said he would not allow the legislation to be brought to the House floor because he believes it is Medicaid expansion, which he staunchly opposes.
READ MORE: How Rep. Joey Hood could save the lives of countless Mississippi mothers
Who supports it and why?
Statewide organizations and health professionals have advocated for the policy change, including State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney, the Mississippi State Medical Association, the Mississippi Medical Care Advisory Committee and the Mississippi Economic Council. Additionally, a Mississippi Today survey conducted this session showed that a majority of lawmakers — including members of the House — support the policy measure. Recent polling of Mississippi voters shows that more than two-thirds of the state supports the measure. Advocates say it will widely improve health outcomes in Mississippi.
READ MORE: Survey: Majority of lawmakers support postpartum Medicaid extension
What would the economic impact of passing it be?
Officials and advocates have said that postpartum Medicaid extension would result in net savings for the state by preventing costly medical conditions from lack of treatment. Premature babies can cost the state more than half a million dollars more than babies born at term. It’s estimated that extending postpartum Medicaid coverage in Mississippi would cost about $6 million to $7 million per year, which is a marginal total considering the state’s current $3.9 billion surplus.
Who can extend postpartum Medicaid?
It’s still not clear if Gov. Reeves could pass the policy on his own as head of the state’s Division of Medicaid, though legislative leaders have long said that Reeves has the power to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage without their approval. Reeves recently said if the Legislature passed the bill, he would sign it into law, but he did not address the stated fact that he could pass it himself.
READ MORE: Gov. Tate Reeves, after months of resistance, asks lawmakers to pass postpartum Medicaid extension
What’s next?
If Rep. Joey Hood doesn’t call a House Medicaid Committee meeting and pass the Senate bill by midnight on Feb. 28, the measure will die for the second straight year in the House. It is possible (but perhaps unlikely) lawmakers could revive the measure later in the session, which is scheduled to end on April 2.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center has acquired Canton-based Merit Health Madison and is preparing to move a pediatric clinic to Madison, continuing a trend of moving services to Jackson’s suburbs.
The 67-bed hospital, now called UMMC Madison, will provide a wide range of community hospital services, including emergency services, medical-surgical care, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery and radiology services. It also will serve as a training site for medical students, and it plans to offer OB-GYN care in the future.
“As Mississippi’s only academic medical center, we must continue to be focused on our three-part mission to educate the next generation of health care providers, conduct impactful research and deliver accessible high-quality health care,” Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC’s vice chancellor of health affairs, said in a statement. “Every decision we make is rooted in our mission.”
The new facility will help address space constraints at the medical center’s main campus in Jackson by freeing up hospital beds, imaging services and operating areas, said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs.
UMMC physicians have performed surgeries and other procedures at the hospital in Madison since 2019. UMMC became the full owner of the hospital May 1 after purchasing it from Franklin, Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.
The Batson Kids Clinic, which offers pediatric primary care, will move to the former Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine location in Madison. This space will allow the medical center to offer pediatric primary care and specialty services and resolve space issues that prevent the clinic from adding new providers, according to Institutions of Higher Learning board minutes.
A UMMC spokesperson did not respond to questions about the services that will be offered at the clinic or when it will begin accepting patients.
The Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine, a pediatric subspecialty clinic, closed last year as a result of a settlement in a seven-year legal battle between the clinic and UMMC in a federal trade secrets lawsuit.
The changes come after the opening of UMMC’s Colony Park South clinic in Ridgeland in February. The clinic offers a range of specialty outpatient services, including surgical services. Another Ridgeland UMMC clinic, Colony Park North, will open in 2026.
The expansion of UMMC clinical services to Madison County has been criticized by state lawmakers and Jackson city leaders. The medical center does not need state approval to open new educational facilities. Critics say UMMC has used this exemption to locate facilities in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods outside Jackson while reducing services in the city.
UMMC did not respond to a request for comment about its movement of services to Madison County.
UMMC began removing clinical services this year from Jackson Medical Mall, which is in a majority-Black neighborhood with a high poverty rate. The medical center plans to reduce its square footage at the mall by about 75% in the next year.
The movement of health care services from Jackson to the suburbs is a “very troubling trend” that will make it more difficult for Jackson residents to access care, Democratic state Sen. John Horhn, who will become Jackson’s mayor July 1, previously told Mississippi Today.
Lawmakers sought to rein in UMMC’s expansion outside Jackson this year by passing a bill that would require the medical center to receive state approval before opening new educational medical facilities in areas other than the vicinity of its main campus and Jackson Medical Mall. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed the legislation, saying he opposed an unrelated provision in the bill.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The post UMMC hospital madison county appeared first on mississippitoday.org
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article presents a primarily factual report on UMMC’s expansion into Madison County, outlining the medical center’s services and strategic decisions while including critiques from Democratic leaders and local officials about the suburban shift. The inclusion of concerns over equity and access—highlighting that the expansion is occurring in wealthier, whiter suburbs at the expense of services in majority-Black, poorer neighborhoods—leans the piece toward a center-left perspective, emphasizing social justice and community impact. However, the article maintains a measured tone by presenting statements from UMMC representatives and government officials without overt editorializing, thus keeping the overall coverage grounded in balanced reporting with a slight progressive framing.
Nationally known comedian Rita Brent will host the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute’s “Medgar at 100” Concert on June 28.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 14, and can be ordered on the institute’s website.
The concert will take place at the Jackson Convention Complex and is the capstone event of the “Medgar at 100” Celebration. Organizers are calling the event “a cultural tribute and concert honoring the enduring legacy of Medgar Wiley Evers.”
“My father believed in the power of people coming together — not just in protest, but in joy and purpose, and my mother and father loved music,” said Reena Evers-Everette, executive director of the institute. “This evening is about honoring his legacy with soul, celebration, and a shared commitment to carry his work forward. Through music and unity, we are creating space for remembrance, resilience, and the rising voices of a new generation.”
In addition to Brent, other featured performers include: actress, comedian and singer Tisha Campbell; soul R&B powerhouse Leela James; and Grammy award-winning artist, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Q Parker and Friends.
Organizers said the concert is also “a call to action — a gathering rooted in remembrance, resistance, and renewal.”
Proceeds from the event will go to support the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute’s mission to “advance civic engagement, develop youth leadership, and continue the fight for justice in Mississippi and beyond.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The post Rita Brent, Q Parker headline 'Medgar at 100' Concert appeared first on mississippitoday.org
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This article presents a straightforward, factual report on the upcoming “Medgar at 100” concert honoring civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers. The tone is respectful and celebratory, focusing on the event’s cultural and community significance without expressing a political stance or ideological bias. It quotes organizers and highlights performers while emphasizing themes of remembrance, unity, and justice. The coverage remains neutral by reporting the event details and mission of the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute without editorializing or promoting a specific political viewpoint. Overall, it maintains balanced and informative reporting.
Residents at Chapel Ridge Apartments in Jackson are left wondering what to do next after months dealing with trash pileups, property theft and the possibility of water shutoffs due to the property owner skipping out on the bill.
On Sunday, Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley, city attorney Drew Martin and code enforcement officers discussed next steps for the complex, which, since April 30, has been without a property manager.
“How are you all cracking down on other possible fraudulent property managers around Jackson?” one woman asked Martin.
“ We don’t know they’re there until we know they’re there, and I know that’s a terrible answer, but I don’t personally have another one I’m aware of right now,” Martin said. “These individuals don’t seem to have owned another apartment complex in the Metro Jackson area, despite owning a whole bunch nationwide.”
Back in April, a letter was left on the door of the leasing office advising residents to not make rental payments until a new property manager arrives. The previous property managers are Lynd Management Group, a company based in San Antonio, Texas.
The complex has been under increased scrutiny after Chapel Ridge Apartments lost its solid waste contract mid-March due to months of nonpayment. The removal of dumpsters led to a portion of the parking lot turning into a dumping site, an influx of rodents and gnats, and an investigation by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Local leaders pitched in to help remedy the situation, and in May, Waste Management provided two dumpsters for the complex.
However, the problems persisted. In May, JXN Water released the names of 15 apartment complexes that owe more than $100,000 in unpaid water fees. Chapel Ridge was on the list. JXN Water spokesperson Aisha Carson said via email that they are “pursuing legal options to address these large-scale delinquencies across several properties.”
“While no shutoffs are imminent at this time, we are evaluating each case based on legal feasibility and the need to balance enforcement with tenant protections. Our focus is on transparency and accountability, not disruption—but we will act when needed to ensure the integrity of the system,” Carson said.
And earlier this week, Chapel Ridge Apartments was declared a public nuisance. Martin said this gives the city of Jackson “the authority to come in, mow the grass and board up any of the units where people aren’t living.”
Martin said the situation is complicated, because the complex is owned by Chapel Ridge Apartments LLC. The limited liability corporation is owned by CRBM Realty Inc. and Crown Capital Holdings LLC, which are ultimately owned by Moshe “Mark” Silber. In April, Silber was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Earlier this month, both companies filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey.
Now, Martin said the main goal is to find someone who can manage the property.
“Somebody’s got to be able to collect rent from you,” Martin said. “They got to be able to pay the water. They got to be able to pay the garbage. They got to be able to pay for the lights to be on. They got to maintain the property, so that’s our goal is to put that in place.”
Chapel Ridge offers a rent scale based on household income. Those earning under 50% of the area median income — between $21,800 and $36,150 depending on household size — for example, pay $480 for a two-bedroom and $539 for a three-bedroom unit. Rent increases between $20 and $40 for those earning under 60% of the area median income.
Valarie Banks said that when she moved into Chapel Ridge nearly 13 years ago, it was a great community. The disabled mother and grandmother moved from West Jackson to the complex because it was neatly kept and quiet.
“It was beautiful. I saw a lot of kids out playing. There were people that were engaging you when you came out. They were eager to help,” Banks said. “ I hope that they could bring this place back to the way it once was.”
But after months of uncertainty, Banks is preparing to move. She said she’s not the only one.
“I have somewhere to go, but I’m just trying to get my money together so I can be able to handle the deposits and the bills that come after you move,” she said. “All of my doctors are around here close to me. In 12 years, I made this place home for me. … I’ve been stacking my rent, but it’s still not enough if I want to move this month.”
While she said she’s holding onto her rent payments for the time being, she realizes that many of her fellow residents may not be as lucky. Without someone to maintain the apartments, some residents are finding themselves without basic amenities.
“Some people are in dire straits, because they don’t have a stove or a fridge or the air conditioner,” she said. “Their stove went out, or the fridge went out, or they stole the air conditioner while you’re in the apartment.”
Banks isn’t the only one who is formulating a plan to leave. One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she’s been trying to save money to move, but she already has $354 wrapped up in a money order that she’s unable to pass off for her rent, due to the property manager’s recent departure.
“It really feels like an abandonment and just stressful to live where I’m living at right now. This just doesn’t happen. It just feels stressful. It doesn’t feel good at all,” she said.
She’s trying to remain optimistic, but as each day passes without someone to maintain the property, she’s losing hope.
“ I just hope that things get better some day, somehow, hopefully, because if not, more than likely I’m going to have to leave because I can only take so much,” she said. “I can’t continue to deal with this situation of hoping and wishing somebody comes, and they don’t.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The post Future uncertain for residents of abandoned south Jackson apartment complex appeared first on mississippitoday.org
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This article from *Mississippi Today* primarily focuses on the struggles of low-income residents at Chapel Ridge Apartments, emphasizing the human impact of property mismanagement, regulatory gaps, and systemic neglect. The piece maintains a factual tone, but it centers the voices of vulnerable tenants and local officials seeking accountability—hallmarks of a center-left perspective. While it does not overtly advocate for policy change, the narrative framing highlights social injustice and institutional failures, subtly aligning with progressive concerns about housing equity and corporate responsibility.
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