Jackson Free Press

Rep. John Mayo, D-Clarksdale, smirked at the The Mississippi Hospital Association's recent refusal to submit a report to Gov. Haley Barbour of possible Medicaid cuts to hospitals last week. "Apparently the Hospital Association accepted the slap to the face when they accepted the 'either/or option,' but refused to turn the other cheek when asked what cuts should be made," Mayo wrote in an e-mail. "Kind of like the innocent but condemned prisoner, bound and tied to the post and about to be shot. The executioner whispers in his ear, 'Where would you like the bullet?' To which the condemned replies, 'Oh, please, just shoot me.'"

Other Medicaid-funded providers could follow the act of rebellion.

Speaker Billy McCoy expressed frustration with Barbour's refusal to broker a tobacco tax/hospital tax deal, but issued a letter expressing his hope that "House and Senate leaders will show statesmanship" regarding a plan to fill a Medicaid shortfall.

House Medicaid Committee chairman Dirk Dedeaux, D-Perkinston, and Senate Public Health Committee Chairman Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, met last Thursday after a seemingly failed meeting between McCoy, Barbour, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and others on the Medicaid deficit.

McCoy said he "saw no evidence" that Barbour "was willing to budge" from his threat to cut the Medicaid program by up to $375 million in July, but said he was "optimistic" that House and Senate leaders would work to hash out an agreement.

The House and Barbour still oppose each other's plan to fix the budget shortfall. The House wants to fill the hole with a tobacco and alcohol tax increase, while Barbour—a former tobacco lobbyist—wants to initiate a $168 daily tax on hospital beds that McCoy argues would be transferred to the patients.

"We don't want an exorbitant tax on the sick to cause monthly insurance premiums to skyrocket on working families, businesses and governments who pay for their employees' health insurance," Barbour said in a statement.

McCoy said the House would be willing to consider a more modest tobacco tax increase in exchange for a reduced hospital tax, but Barbour is more willing to cut Medicaid services than barter. If nobody overcomes the stalemate McCoy said he'll likely send House members back home when they show up to continue the special session next week.

"Neither the executive branch nor legislative should shut the other off as we discuss competing means to an end in a Democracy," Mayo wrote.

Barbour may follow through with his proposed cuts, though he risks a drop in public approval if he does. The last time the governor seriously impacted Medicaid was during his 2004 endeavor to remove Medicaid coverage for 65,000 Poverty Level Aged and Disabled beneficiaries. Barbour's approval ratings tanked that year, and did not significantly increase until Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

Barbour is a lame duck this term, however, and public opinion will only affect Republicans supporting Barbour's face-off against the House. Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, told the Jackson Free Press recently that he was willing to bet Barbour's hard-line protection of cigarette companies would negatively impact Senate and House Republican allies running for re-election.

Previous Comments

ID

131101

Comment

My main concern about all of this is that if the hospital tax goes through, people on Medicaid won't get the same level of care as those who have insurance through the private sector.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-06-23T16:18:15-06:00

ID

131104

Comment

Not to worry. I think that Gov B, like most of us, have forgotton that the main, major and most influential constituency for the states 3 to 1 Federal Medicade match is not the "poor" of the state but the "industrial medical complex", who I gander a guess are mostly Republicans. Remember the last time a politico messed with the "medical monster"? ...wasn't it Ray Maybus who lost re-election partly due to his closing of the state's charity and mental hospitals. Do you really believe that all of the white doctors, drug salesmen, medical supply companies , etc., are going to sit still for Gov. B messing with their Kool-Aid? Remember there are two type of peole who are Republicans.. Rich people and suckers...and Gov B is about to mess with the former of the clan. Get real. On the other hand, I keep forgetting that Gov B can't stand for re-election and his Kool Aid is Marlboro flavored.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2008-06-23T17:16:17-06:00