CA – Legislators wait for word on Medicaid funding

Legislators wait for word on Medicaid funding

JACKSON — Legislators appear headed toward a 24-day recess to see whether the federal government extends a reduced state share of Medicaid funding.

The federal government’s share of the federal-state Medicaid program was about 76.3 percent before the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was implemented.

Those federal stimulus funds reduced the state share of Medicaid funding by 6.2 percent, but that money is about to expire, said state Rep. Johnny Stringer, D-Montrose, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Should the federal government extend the stimulus money, Mississippi’s budget for 2011 would get an additional $187 million.

Commercial Appeal
3/23/10