In-person interviews still sticking point

The Sun Herald, 4/16/8

Mississippi lawmakers on Wednesday said they might not be able to resolve their differences on Medicaid before their session ends this weekend.

If they leave the program’s budget unresolved, Republican Gov. Haley Barbour will have to call them back to the Capitol for a special session before the new budget year starts July 1.

Medicaid is a health program for the needy, aged and disabled and for low-income families with children. It is paid by a combination of state and federal money.

Lawmakers’ biggest argument is still over the requirement that people go to Medicaid offices to renew their coverage. Mississippi and New York are the only states that have the face-to-face requirement for renewal, legislators say.