Medicaid; expand eligibility under federal Affordable Care Act and under CHIP.
If passed, HB 1326 would significantly alter Medicaid eligibility criteria. It would not only provide health coverage to low-income adults and uninsured children but would also enhance the state's capacity to provide health services by allowing more families access to these critical healthcare benefits. The bill aims to repeal previous sections of the Mississippi Children's Health Insurance Program Act, thereby centralizing the administration of children's health coverage under the newly proposed criteria. The implications of this bill could lead to broad improvements in health outcomes for underserved populations in Mississippi.
House Bill 1326 aims to expand Medicaid coverage in Mississippi by amending Section 43-13-115 of the Mississippi Code of 1972. The bill proposes to provide Medicaid coverage for individuals under 65 years of age with incomes not exceeding 133% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, it seeks to extend Medicaid coverage for children under 19 years whose family income is between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level. This expansion aligns with provisions authorized under the Affordable Care Act and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
However, the bill has met with some contention regarding its funding and the implications of expanding Medicaid in a state historically resistant to such programs. Critics argue that without a clear funding source, the expansion could strain state resources and lead to increased taxes or cuts in other necessary services. Proponents advocate for the expansion as a moral obligation and an opportunity to improve public health in Mississippi, a state with significant health disparities and one of the highest rates of uninsured residents in the country.