Congress could consider as early as today a possible moratorium on proposed federal cuts to Medicaid that would further dent the state’s coffers and impact thousands of Mississippians served by the program.
Some key state lawmakers are hoping their counterparts in Washington will make a final decision on whether to implement the changes before the Mississippi Legislature reconvenes at the Capitol to deal with a $90 million deficit Medicaid is facing.
Gov. Haley Barbour said he will call legislators back to Jackson before July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Meanwhile, recipient advocates continue to lobby for other reforms to the state program, including doing away with a face-to-face eligibility evaluation.
“Medicaid is closely watching the situation in Washington because it would directly affect how our program is funded,” Medicaid spokesman Francis Rullan told The Clarion-Ledger.
