Cottonmouth

Jeff Amy: Gov. Bryant appears to be slipping on GOP plan to stymy Medicaid

2013-05-14T07:47:00.000-05:00

Jeff Amy has a great article up today about the GOP strategy to prevent Medicaid expansion. Primarily, he talks about how Bryant's announcement that he won't call a special session at all is a marked deviation from the prior stance of calling one and putting the pressure on Democrats while in special session. Here's how the article begins:

That seemed to be the case last week when Gov. Phil Bryant said he would try to run Medicaid even if the Legislature failed to pass bills reauthorizing or funding the program. Beyond the cloudy legality of the Republican’s claim, it turns away from the clear-as-glass GOP strategy of blaming Democrats for voting against the program and causing a calamity where 640,000 Mississippians wouldn’t have health care coverage come July 1.

I recommend reading the whole thing here.

Bill Crawford: Gov. Bryant and Speaker Gunn are acting like tyrants

2013-05-13T16:55:00.001-05:00

And y'all thought I was rough on these two. Check out what Bill Crawford writes in the Daily Journal today about Gov. Bryant's and Speaker Gunn's behavior regarding Medicaid expansion:

Resistance to Medicaid expansion and Obamacare is one thing. Power plays that oppress free and open debate and good government are quite another, and display a taint liberty resists.

Founder Ben Franklin told us, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.”

I strongly recommend that you read the whole piece. It's a great summation of what really happened with Medicaid this session.

BREAKING: Medicaid cuts to begin January 1, 2014?

2013-05-13T16:39:00.002-05:00

From a press release by the House Democratic Caucus:

May 13, 2013

Jackson, MS- Statement from House Democratic Caucus Leader Bobby Moak (D-Bogue Chitto):

“On Monday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released proposed regulations for the implementation of reductions in Medicaid disproportionate share payments to hospitals pursuant to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. These cuts begin January 1, 2014. The release can be found at Medicaid.gov. The agency has previously announced cuts to Medicare payments under the program beginning October 1, 2013.

Both the Governor and the Division of Medicaid have consistently speculated that the cuts will not occur. With the release today, they have been proven wrong. Should the Mississippi Medicaid program not be expanded to offset these cuts, our hospitals will be irreparably harmed. We again call on the Governor to call a special session to deal with this issue as soon as possible.”

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Going on SuperTalk again this morning

2013-05-13T06:23:00.001-05:00

I'll be on the Gallo Show again this morning at 7:30. Brandon Jones, Executive Director of the Mississippi Democratic Trust, will be joining me.

Gov. Phil Bryant, legal scholar

2013-05-09T08:03:00.001-05:00

From today's Clarion-Ledger:

"As head of the Governor's Division of Medicaid, I will do all I can to continue and to provide Medicaid to the citizens who qualify in the state of Mississippi," Bryant said Wednesday. "That is my legal argument. If someone wants to challenge me in court, what is their argument?"

There are some days when I can't help but ask myself: Is this guy for real?

I know he has lawyers over there in his office, and they're some damned good ones. He should listen to them every now and then.

Flaggs wins Vicksburg mayoral race

2013-05-08T19:29:00.001-05:00

When the polls closed, Rep. George Flaggs was right at 50%, just a vote shy of taking the primary without a runoff. There were approximately 158 affidavit and absentee ballots to be counted, and he needed a majority of those to win.

When the dust settled today, it was official: Rep. George Flaggs is the Democratic nominee for Vicksburg mayor, meaning he's virtually assured of taking office later this year.

Percy Bland, target of intimidation, wins Democratic mayoral primary

2013-05-07T22:21:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, I posted a picture of a noose found outside of Percy Bland's office over in Meridian. Mr. Bland was running for the Democratic mayoral nomination in Meridian, and considered the leader in that race.

Well, he won the nomination tonight, setting up a showdown with incumbent Republican mayor Chari Barry.

Welcome Back to the Blogosphere, Frank Corder

2013-05-07T22:04:00.000-05:00

Down in Pascagoula, the former editor of Y'all Politics has lost a bid for Mayor on the first ballot in a contest featuring four candidates.

Look forward to more stories like this and this and this coming to the computer of a very angry white guy in your neighborhood soon.

Welcome back, Frank.

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson ousted

2013-05-07T21:36:00.001-05:00

With 94% of the votes tallied, incumbent Jackson mayor Harvey Johnson is firmly ensconced in 3rd place behind Chockwe Lumumba (2nd) and Jonathan Lee (1st). Lee has the lead with 35%, Lumumba has 25%, and Johnson has 21%. The gap between Johnson and Lumumba is 1,300 votes.

Update on Vicksburg Mayoral race: it's going to absentee ballots

2013-05-07T21:30:00.001-05:00

There are reportedly 150 absentee ballots in the Vicksburg mayoral primary. With George Flaggs literally sitting on 50%, he's looking to get 76 of those to win the crowded race on the first ballot without a runoff.

Congratulations to Melvin Priester, Jr., elected to Jackson City Council from Ward 2

2013-05-07T21:27:00.001-05:00

It appears certain that Melvin Priester, Jr. has won the Democratic primary for Jackson's Ward 2. Congratulations to Melvin on a great campaign.

Bill Luckett wins Clarksdale Democratic primary; will be next mayor of Clarksdale

2013-05-07T21:14:00.001-05:00

I've received word that former Democratic primary gubernatorial candidate Bill Luckett has won the Democratic mayoral primary in Clarksdale. Congrats, Bill!

Parker Wiseman appears to have won Democratic nomination for Starkville mayor

2013-05-07T20:23:00.001-05:00

Early reports show Parker Wiseman (D) winning the Starkville Democratic mayoral primary with 65% of the vote.

Rep. George Flaggs on the brink of winning Vicksburg race

2013-05-07T20:20:00.001-05:00

With all of the precincts in Vicksburg reporting, Rep. George Flaggs (D - Vicksburg) has exactly 50% of the vote in the Democratic mayoral primary. The affidavits and absentees may well give him the "plus 1" that he needs to become the next mayor of Vicksburg.

I'll keep you posted as I find out.

Congratulations to Rep. Kelvin Buck

2013-05-07T20:14:00.001-05:00

Looks like Rep. Kelvin Buck (D - Holly Springs) has won his race for mayor. Congrats, Kelvin!

Looks like Phil Fisher will win Clinton GOP primary without runoff

2013-05-07T20:12:00.001-05:00

With 3 wards reporting, Fisher is doubling up his opponents. This is a bit of a shock.

It's local primary day in Mississippi: Don't forget to vote!

2013-05-07T09:24:00.002-05:00

A good number of Mississippi municipalities will see new mayors and board members chosen this year, and today is the first step in that. Sam Hall at the Clarion-Ledger has made his predictions for today's mayoral primaries, which you can read here.

Get out and vote, y'all.

Hattiesburg American covers Medicaid listening tour stop

2013-05-05T12:30:00.000-05:00

Here's the article from today's Hattiesburg American covering yesterday's stop on the Mississippi Health Care Access Coalition's listening tour, entitled "Bridging the Gap".

The participants were Linda Dixon Rigsby of the Mississippi Center for Justice, Kim Robinson of the Children’s Defense Fund, Dr. Persharon M. Dixon, a pediatrician who serves as the medical director of Coastal Family Health Center, and John Whitfield of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

Rep. Cecil Brown knocks it out of the park in Medicaid expansion editorial

2013-05-04T18:48:00.000-05:00

In today's Clarion-Ledger, Rep. Cecil Brown (D - Jackson) makes the case for Medicaid expansion. In doing so, he compares the projected costs and benefits of the recent Yokohama tire plant economic package passed nearly unanimously by the Legislature to the projected costs and benefits of Medicaid expansion, which is mired in partisan bickering and gubernatorial grandstanding.

With respect to the Yokohama facility, Rep. Brown writes:

The math is pretty simple. In the short run, the state will spend $70 million to create 500 jobs, a cost of $140,000 per job. Over time, the state will spend $130 million for 2,000 jobs, $65,000 per job. Not cheap, but in line with similar projects. This project is the latest in a long line of “economic development” projects that the state has helped fund with taxpayer dollars. Other states do the same.

With respect to Medicaid expansion, the numbers are better. According to Rep. Brown:

Now comes an even larger economic development project at a much lower cost to the state — the expansion of the state Medicaid program. Here’s how it works. Mississippi will agree to add about 300,000 working Mississippians who currently have no health insurance to its Medicaid program. In exchange, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the medical costs of the expansion for the first three years. After that, the federal reimbursement rate will slowly decrease to 90 percent where it will remain. According to the same Mississippi economists who vetted the Clay County project, over the next 10 years Mississippi will receive new federal monies of nearly $10 billion at a net cost to the state of $368 million. The economists also project the creation of nearly 9,000 new jobs. These numbers alone argue for expansion.

And that's just one of the many, many reasons to expand Medicaid, which include avoiding the closure of rural hospitals. Rep. Brown does a pretty strong job of reviewing them all. His editorial is a must read for Mississippians.

Mississippi Health Care Access coalition launches Medicaid expansion listening tour

2013-05-04T18:29:00.000-05:00

A coalition of health care providers, nonprofit organizations, religious groups and concerned citizens has started its Bridging the Gap listening tour, during which information about Medicaid expansion will be discussed. The tour started today in Hattiesburg, and will continue next week in Tupelo and Oxford. Here's info from the press release:

Locations:

Hattiesburg

Saturday May 4, 2013

at 11am

Thad Cochran Center
118 College Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Tupelo
Thursday May 9, 2013
at 6pm

The Link Centre
1800 W Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38801

Oxford
Thursday May 9, 2013
at 6pm

Oxford Conference Center
102 Ed Perry Blvd.
Oxford, MS

Mississippi Health Care Access is a diverse coalition of health care providers, nonprofit organizations, religious groups and concerned citizens advocating for the expansion of Mississippi's Medicaid program.

Medicaid expansion is an opportunity for Mississippi to invest in thousands of working Mississippi families. Thousands of working Mississippians go to work everyday but cannot afford health insurance. They make too much to qualify for existing Medicaid but too little to pay the high costs of private insurance. Expansion can close that gap and ensure Mississippians have the security of health insurance.

Over the next month, coalition members will host community meetings to inform Mississippians on the impact of the proposed Medicaid expansion. Join us to learn how Medicaid expansion can move our state forward and why maintaining the health care status quo will place Mississippi at a greater health and economic disadvantage.

More Dates & Locations to Follow
For More information call 601.353.0845

or visit http://msroadtoreform.org/

Sen. Thad Cochran issues press release; says he's concerned cuts to payments made to hospitals will close rural ERs

2013-04-30T19:24:00.003-05:00

Sen. Thad Cochran (R - Miss.) issued the press release below back on April 26th. I just wish he could get his Republican colleagues back home to listen to him.

Here's the press release:

COCHRAN TAKES MISSISSIPPI HOSPITALS' CONCERNS TO HHS SECRETARY

Senator Says Rural Health Facilities Fear Cuts, Uncertainty about Obama Health Care Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) this week raised concerns about the effect that cuts to a rural hospital program, as well as the looming implementation of the Affordable Care Act, will have on states like Mississippi.

During a Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, Cochran addressed the Obama administration's FY2014 budget request to reduce Medicare support for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius appeared before the subcommittee to explain the budget recommendations for the CAH and other health care programs.

Cochran indicated that rural hospitals in Mississippi are anxious about the proposed health care changes incorporated into the President's FY2014 budget, as well as the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014.

"We have a large number of poor people living in many Southern states and many of them have benefitted from Department of Health and Human Services' sensitivity to the challenges that many of our small town hospitals face. They are worried now, though, about how these budget reductions, new regulations and new programs might affect them in an adverse way," Cochran said.

"Our rural hospitals want to know whether or not certain payments and reimbursements will adequately reflect the fact that some hospitals in regions like the Mississippi Delta might not be able to keep their emergency rooms open and available to people who need medical attention," he said.

CAHs are designated rural hospitals that operate 24-hour emergency room services. As such, they receive cost-based Medicare reimbursement payments. The President's budget calls for reducing reimbursement for all CAHs from 101 percent of "reasonable costs" to 100 percent. In 2014, CAH status would be eliminated for hospitals less than 10 miles from another hospital, regardless of community need.

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Folks, this is why we have to expand Medicaid: if we don't, the payments Mississippi hospitals get from the federal government are going to go away. Those hospitals will then have to terminate critical services or even close their doors.

It's past time Mississippi Republicans quit playing political games and get on with the business of making sure Mississippians have access to health care.

Report: Health Department lays off 40 workers to privatize maternal and infant health care

2013-04-26T11:38:00.002-05:00

Word is that the State Health Department laid off 40 social workers Monday, some with up to 24.5 years of state service. They reportedly did this to privatize maternal and infant health care, a move that the Legislature had refused to sign off on this session. Apparently, they believe they can do this administratively.

There's also word that the benefactor of the privatization would be Magnolia Health Plan. Magnolia spent $240,000 on the lobbying services of Clare Hester and Henry Barbour in the last two years.

Noose found outside Meridian mayoral candidate's business

2013-04-26T06:12:00.001-05:00

The picture below shows the noose found outside of Percy Bland's office Thursday morning. Mr. Bland is African-American and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for mayor of Meridian.

Oddly enough, you don't see this type of thing happening to white Republican candidates, do you? Of course not.

Something to consider

2013-04-24T11:18:00.005-05:00

Here's a quote from William Alexander Percy that's every bit as true today as when it was written over 70 years ago:

"A good deal has been written about 'shooting at the stars.' I have never thought much of that kind of marksmanship. It may be characterized by imagination, it is lacking in common sense. I rather think it is best to draw a bead on something that you have a chance to hit. To keep any part of Mississippi clean and decent in these days, is a job that no man may deem too small."

Indeed.

What Went On at the Capitol Tonight?

2013-04-22T21:59:00.002-05:00

Photo Courtesy of Friend of Cottonmouth

The Clarion Ledger is reporting that something sketchy went down with Republican leadership in the State Capitol tonight (Monday evening), and while Speaker Gunn is scrambling to explain it as "a meeting...with supporters," many (including myself) are confused as to why Capitol security turned away media and wouldn't allow any insight on a private dinner with big-money donors in a public venue.

From the Clarion Ledger:

An officer told the Clarion-Ledger the media “would have been informed if the private event was important to the public.”

Seems important to me. I'd like to be "informed," now.