2019 MS Governor's race: on Health Care
Jim Hood:
Uncovered industry-wide plan to inflate drug prices
Unsealed court documents in a lawsuit filed by Mississippi and 41 other states show how drug companies coordinated to inflate the price of generic drugs, according to a press release from Attorney General Jim Hood. "The evidence shows an industry-wide
conspiracy to hinder access to drugs that Americans rely on every day," "It shows that these people knew that what they were doing was illegal and then took measures to make sure their actions weren't uncovered. Today, their cover is blown."
Source: Clarion-Ledger on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Jun 26, 2019
Bill Waller:
More accessible, quality health care to address crisis
When nearly half of Mississippi's rural hospitals are in high financial risk of closing, we have a health care crisis in our state. Ignoring the problem is not going to bring about a solution to ensuring access to quality, affordable health care,
particularly in rural areas. [We need] improvements in health care, that reforms Medicaid in a way that doesn't put taxpayers or our state budget at risk, and maximizes Mississippi's potential to bring about more accessible, quality health care.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
May 2, 2019
Bill Waller:
Work with federal government to expand Medicaid in MS
Retired Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. and first-term state Rep. Robert Foster spoke to an audience of about 100 people at the first debate of the 2019 campaign season, each saying he would make a long-term commitment to
increasing teacher pay, improving highways and bridges and making health care more affordable.Both said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion, possibly seeking permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage.
Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, and expenses are paid by the federal and state governments. Nearly 721,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid in Mississippi.
Under the federal health law that then-
Pres. Barack Obama signed in 2010, states have the option of expanding Medicaid to the working poor. Mississippi Republican leaders have declined to do so, citing concerns that the federal government might not honor its promise to pay for the expansion.
Source: MS Business Journal on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 1, 2019
Robert Foster:
Work with federal government to expand Medicaid in MS
Retired Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. and first-term state Rep. Robert Foster spoke to an audience of about 100 people at the first debate of the 2019 campaign season, each saying he would make a long-term commitment to
increasing teacher pay, improving highways and bridges and making health care more affordable.Both said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion, possibly seeking permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage.
Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, and expenses are paid by the federal and state governments. Nearly 721,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid in Mississippi.
Under the federal health law that then-
Pres. Barack Obama signed in 2010, states have the option of expanding Medicaid to the working poor. Mississippi Republican leaders have declined to do so, citing concerns that the federal government might not honor its promise to pay for the expansion.
Source: MS Business Journal on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Apr 1, 2019
Bill Waller:
Address uncompensated care at rural hospitals
The topic of Medicaid and healthcare was an issue that both [Republican candidates Bill Waller and Robert Foster] said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion. Both were careful to call it Medicaid reform saying they would possibly
seek permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage. "Everybody has access to health care in America," said Foster. "The problem is, it's very unaffordable."Waller mentioned the Medicaid plans in
Arkansas, Utah, and Indiana specifically using something similar to Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana Medicaid reform. "We have 31 rural hospitals on the danger list right now and most of it can be attributed to the uncompensated care
that they are forced to give," said Waller. "So yes, we have to look at it. It is a right to life question and it has to be accessible."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2019
Robert Foster:
Everyone has access to healthcare; issue is affordability
The topic of Medicaid and healthcare was an issue that both [Republican candidates Bill Waller and Robert Foster] said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion. Both were careful to call it Medicaid reform saying they would possibly
seek permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage. "Everybody has access to health care in America," said Foster. "The problem is, it's very unaffordable."Waller mentioned the Medicaid plans in
Arkansas, Utah, and Indiana specifically using something similar to Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana Medicaid reform. "We have 31 rural hospitals on the danger list right now and most of it can be attributed to the uncompensated care
that they are forced to give," said Waller. "So yes, we have to look at it. It is a right to life question and it has to be accessible."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial debate
Mar 26, 2019
Bill Waller:
Consider some form of Medicaid expansion in MS
In speaking about his policy priorities, Waller did not hesitate to sketch out differences with Tate Reeves and to contrast himself with the lieutenant governor by name. Indeed, Waller joins a list of Republican candidates for state
office willing to consider some form of Medicaid expansion in the state. "Everything is on the table," Waller said. "We have a healthcare crisis. We want to make sure everyone has access to healthcare."
The Affordable Care Act, often called "ObamaCare," offers significant federal funding for such an expansion of Medicaid eligibility standards. Some states, however, have won permission to expand while imposing certain requirements, including
work requirements.
Waller offered Indiana as an example of just such a such a state, which won federal permission for a modified expansion when now-Vice President Mike Pence was governor.
Source: Tupelo Daily Journal on 2019 Mississippi governor's race
Mar 12, 2019
Robert Foster:
Consider some form of Medicaid expansion
Foster won attention shortly after his gubernatorial announcement with his call for some version of Medicaid expansion. The Affordable Care Act, often called "ObamaCare," offers significant federal funding for such an expansion of
Medicaid eligibility standards. Some states, however, have won permission to expand while imposing certain requirements, including work requirements.
Source: Tupelo Daily Journal on 2019 Mississippi governor's race
Mar 12, 2019
Robert Foster:
Reform Medicaid to cover 300,000 more Mississippians
Q: I've seen ads where you claim you don't support Medicaid expansion, but do support "reform." But what you describe as "reform" on your website sounds a lot like expansion, which involves accepting federal funds to expand access to Medicaid to about
300,000 Mississippians who make too much for traditional Medicaid, but not enough for Affordable Care Act subsidies. What's the difference?A: You can use the word expansion, or you can use the word reform. I use the word reform because there's a big
difference to me between reforming Medicaid and expanding it and just bringing more people onto the government payroll for health care. I think that's bad policy. I think it encourages dependency. It discourages people from wanting to take the step
of working and helping pitch in for what they get back. I want to incentivize people to continue to work, to have skin in the game, to help pay in something to help cover, so the State doesn't have to drain our budget to help cover their insurance.
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Feb 6, 2019
Robert Foster:
ObamaCare is bad policy, but let's get Mississippi our share
[Under ObamaCare], we do need to draw down those federal [Medicaid] dollars. All the people who work in Mississippi are paying federal taxes--and our dollars are being redistributed around for health care in other states, and we're not getting the
benefit here. The people contributing should be receiving what they're helping pay for everybody else to use.We're sticking our head in the sand because we don't like the policy of ObamaCare. I think it's bad policy. The ACA is bad policy that had a
lot of flaws, but it is the law of the land, and Mississippi is going to have to do what's in our best interest until that law is changed in Washington. We would be a lot better off if Washington block-granted money back to the states
in education and health care so we can do what we think is best for our state because every state is not the same. What works for us doesn't necessarily work for New York or Texas or Tennessee.
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Feb 6, 2019
Robert Foster:
Expand Medicaid with contribution of monthly fee
Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert Foster said he supports a version of Medicaid expansion where participants would be required to contribute a monthly fee in order to receive coverage. "I do not personally support traditional expansion of
Medicaid like they've done in some other states," Foster said. "But what I do support, and what we do have to take into serious consideration, is looking at waivers and an innovative way of bringing health care that is affordable to the working class
Mississippians that are left out right now."Foster said he would support a version of expansion similar to Indiana's, where participants would be required to pay into savings accounts to help cover the bill and lower the state's costs for the program.
That could appease central Republican concerns about expansion, which usually revolve around how the state will pay its share of the cost. Some states have also pushed for work requirements for those on Medicaid, a tweak Foster said he would consider.
Source: Mississippi Clarion Ledger on 2019 Mississippi governor race
Jan 8, 2019
Jim Hood:
Accept federal dollars to help struggling rural hospitals
Jesus said to take care of the widows, orphans, the elderly, and the least among us. When it comes to health care, Mississippi has not followed His word. As your governor I will: - Work to make health care affordable for everyone
-
Fight for those who can't fight for themselves
- Support law enforcement in the fight against the opioid epidemic
- Accept federal dollars to help our struggling rural hospitals
- Focus on improving rural access to health care
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign site HoodForGovernor.com
Dec 31, 2018
Robert Foster:
Reform our monopolistic Certificate of Need laws
A Healthier Mississippi- Allow Mississippians and providers to be more in-control of healthcare decisions, rather than government bureaucrats.
- Free the healthcare market by repealing and reforming our out-of-date, monopolistic Certificate of
Need laws (C.O.N.).
- Reform and restructure our Medicaid system to prevent hard-working Mississippians from being forced to go to the emergency room as their only alternative to care.
C.O.N. laws were declared to be in violation of the
Federal Anti-Trust Act, and were repealed by the Federal government decades ago. Most states have complied and either repealed or reformed most of their C.O.N. laws, yet Mississippi still protects these corporate healthcare monopolies at the expense of
its citizens. This is unacceptable in a state that should be doing everything in its power to increase access to healthcare and reduce its unsustainable costs. Free-market principles work--even in healthcare.
Source: 2019 Mississippi governor campaign website Foster4MS.com
Dec 31, 2018
Jim Hood:
Sue drug companies for over-charging Medicaid
Attorney General Jim Hood, with the help of outside counsel, is suing a group of pharmaceutical companies, alleging they engaged in an "unlawful scheme" to force the state to pay for drugs that were not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.Hood
contends the companies' scheme involves false representations, made by the defendants to the state, that their National Drug Codes, or NDCs, are FDA approved and eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. "The State directly relies on these representations in
approving the reimbursement for providers of prescription drugs," the Hood explained. "Defendants marketed these unapproved drugs to healthcare providers as being Covered Outpatient Drugs (or CODs), and therefore reimbursable by the State," resulting in
increased market share and profits for the companies while essentially leaving the state in a lurch. In 2011, for example, the state Medicaid program forked out about $551 million on prescription drugs, according to the Attorney General's Office.
Source: Mississippi Today on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Oct 1, 2018
Tate Reeves:
Let's find solutions instead of over-institutionalizing
Mississippi is still in the beginning litigation stages of a related U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit. That action alleges that the state over-relies on institutionalization to provide mental-health care--not community-based services. "I think the
DOJ has sued us because we haven't done enough community-based care," Reeves told reporters. "We do too much institutionalization, so we've got to work together and find solutions for that."
Source: Jackson Free Press on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race
Jul 27, 2017
Page last updated: Nov 28, 2019