Jackson Free Press

A Medicaid Conference Recap
On Monday, Feb 28, a conference was held in Room 103 between the Senate and the House, where Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, accused the Senate of holding some of their bills hostage. Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton, kept saying that the Legislature had left the Medicaid division "handcuffed" in the past by not providing what they asked. Flaggs said he was not a part of that group.

The conference discussed changing the policy so that a Medicaid enrollee could only stay in the hospital for 15 days instead of 30, with an exemption to the UMC Hospital here in Jackson. Dr. Warren Jones, director of the Medicaid Division, let them know that they had to have the same policy for all hospitals, so that idea was out the window. Finally, they came to the conclusion that House Bill 1579 is dead, according to the Senate.

Flaggs and Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, both said, "Maybe we should go to a special session on this." Flaggs even went on to say: "The Governor seems to like special sessions. He likes making money."

House Medicaid Committee Chairman Rep. Leonard Morris, D-Batesville, commented after the conference: "The Senate needs to at least consider something else besides taking the money out of the tobacco trust fund and consider the cigarette tax at least. They don't seem to be doing that."

More could have been accomplished at the meeting, but Jones and the Medicaid Division did not have some figures ready that were needed to start looking at some more cuts. The goal of the conference was to discuss cuts for Medicaid services in 2006. The joint conference committee is trying to cut the program's budget from $683 million to roughly $513 million.

'Here ya go, Bubba'
Last Friday, Gov. Haley Barbour announced that Rep. Randy "Bubba" Pierce, D-Leakesville, was appointed to the 16th District of the Mississippi Chancery Court representing Jackson, George and Greene counties. Pierce will serve in the place of former Judge Glenn Barlow, who retired Feb. 1. Pierce will finish out Barlow's current term, which runs through 2006, and according to the governor's Web site, Pierce is expected to seek re-election to the judgeship that year.

There are a couple of surprising things here. One is that Republican ideologue Haley Barbour appointed a Democrat to the position in a very Republican district. The fact about Pierce that makes this less surprising is that he is a part of the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition, which is supposed to be a bipartisan organization consisting of a paid membership of 46 Republicans and 15 Democrats as of Feb. 8, 2005.

However, word at the Capitol is that Pierce will be making a much more significant salary in his new position, and he will be able to have more time with his family and increased job security. As a result, Pierce had to resign from the Mississippi House, where he was the chairman of the House Education Committee. Replacing him as chairman of the Education Committee is Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson.

Steel Workin' at the Capitol
On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Mississippi House gave the "go ahead" to SteelCorr Inc, a private automotive steel provider, to put a steel mill in Columbus. House Bill 1668 passed 108-6, and the bill includes a $25 million grant and up to $85 million in loans—a $10 million loan if complications arise during construction and a seven-year $75 million loan if the company is unable to repay debt. The bill will now be passed to the State Senate, where it is expected to pass just as easily.

The lucrative plant is supposed to generate about 450 jobs paying an average of $70,000 a year. That would make these among the top-paying manufacturing jobs in the state. Several House members were reluctant to approve a new economic-development project so soon because of the public criticism received over the $54 million failure of the state-backed beef plant Mississippi Beef Processors in Oakland.

Previous Comments

ID

64534

Comment

Old people are going to be put out on the streets if our elected officials don't do something about Medicaid NOW. I hate to sound melodramatic, but how else can I put this? If something is not done, people are going to die. I don't know who may and may not have received these yet, but at least one nursing home in North Mississippi (which I decline to name at the present, because they are not to blame and obviously have no choice) has sent out letters to those whose loved ones are in the nursing home and part or all of the cost is covered by Medicaid. I have a copy of this letter (names expurgated) and I'm not sure it will fit in here, but I am going to try. : ____________________________________________________ Date: March 2, 2005 Dear _________________________, As I am sure you have heard through the media, our State is facing a number of challenges related to its fiscal status. We have received a letter from Dr. Warren Jones (see attached) informing us that as of February 28, 2005, Medicaid will no longer have the funds to reimburse us for ____________________. Please understand that this issue is out of our control and that we have met with State leadership to provide suggestions as to how Medicaid can reduce its costs. We are hopeful that the legislators will address this issue in an expedient manner. The purpose of this is to inform you that effective March 1, 2005, ____________________ will be converted to private pay at a daily rate of $145.00. Pre-payment is due prior to the beginning of the month. Additionally, you will be responsible for prescription drug cost. We suggest you contact your pharmacist in order to negotiate a payment schedule. If you are unable to provide payment for services rendered, we will have no other options but discharge. We suggest you contact your local Representative and Senator and ask that they work diligently to address the serious Medicaid issue. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, --------------- Administrator ________________________________ I also have a copy of the letter from Medicaid to the Medicaid providers (in this case, a nursing home), which can be found at: http://www.mississippipolitical.com/medicaid.htm

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-03-04T20:26:34-06:00

ID

64535

Comment

Gov. Haley Barbour and Medicaid Executive Director Dr. Warren Jones are planning a 3 p.m. news conference Monday in the Conference Center East at the Woolfolk Building to discuss Medicaid. Is anyone else going to be there? I'm going and I'm looking for company - I'm coming 125 miles for this - anyone closer who's willing to step up for the aged, disabled and ill in Mississippi?

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-03-05T18:53:04-06:00

ID

64536

Comment

"Gov. Haley Barbour and Medicaid Director Dr. Warren Jones will explain the steps to shut down the program at a 3 p.m. news conference today, said John Arledge, the governor's spokesman." From today's C/L http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050307/NEWS010504/503070351/1002/NEWS01

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-03-07T08:18:07-06:00

ID

64537

Comment

Mississippi is just seeing the beginning of their problems with Medicaid. All of our Baby Boomers are coming of an age that will see them needing Medicaid assistance in the next 10 to 15 years. So many of our residents are elderly. (In the Mississippi rural areas). So many of our young have left the state to find employment. This is not a problem that will go away.

Author

Baby Boomer

Date

2005-03-31T22:57:43-06:00