Hearing set on Medicaid dispute

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/21/8

A hearing to determine the legality of Gov. Haley Barbour’s latest plan to pay for Medicaid is set for next week.

Hinds County Chancery Judge William Singletary will hear arguments Wednesday at 10 a.m., according to court administrators.

A group of hospitals is challenging the governor’s plan to raise taxes on the facilities, cut Medicaid services and replace the cuts with federal money associated with the program.

In July, Singletary ruled Barbour cannot bypass lawmakers to raise hospital taxes. The Republican governor, who oversees Medicaid, has said his new proposal does not require legislative approval but is allowable under the judge’s previous ruling.