Mississippi SMA pitches for closing coverage gap

There’s still a waiting game at the State Capitol as the Senate has yet to take up its version of a Medicaid expansion plan. Another group is working to make sure their perspective is taken into consideration.

”Today, it’s time to hear from the House of Medicine,” said Dr Claude Brunson, Executive Director of the Mississippi State Medical Association.

Most of the doctors who spoke at Thursday’s press conference didn’t use the phrase Medicaid expansion. They’re instead saying, “close the coverage gap.”

They’re trying to drive home the importance of that with stories of what they’ve witnessed. Dr Randy Easterling shared the story of Jimmy, the son of one of his patients. He recently learned he’d been diagnosed with multiple myeloma after delaying care since he didn’t have insurance.

“Jimmy was treated as best they could, but it was too late,” said Easterling. “Jimmy is at home on hospice. He can’t get out of bed and he can’t walk. He’s in constant pain. He probably has two or three weeks to live.”

One of Easterling’s relatives who is about the the same age as Jimmy got the same diagnosis and is now cancer-free.

“Jimmy deserved better,” added Easterling. “What makes my relative more deserving and Jimmy? Nothing. Nothing more to me. Nothing makes him more deserving. My relative simply had health insurance and Jimmy didn’t focus we could do better. We need to do better.”

We spotted State Health Officer Dr Dan Edney among the white coats.

“I’m just excited as a Mississippian that we’re discussing this important issue of access to care for low-income working Mississippians,” said Dr Edney.

He echoed others in saying investments into hospitals have been important but made this note.

“My message has been focused on the patient, everything else will take care of itself,” noted Edney. “That’s what we’re told in medicine. So institutions are great, we need them healthy, and we need to take care of them. The best way to help them now is by helping the individual have access to outpatient services.”

And it’s improved access that these docs say will result in managing chronic diseases that are going untreated.

The Senate Medicaid committee is expected to meet next week. That will be the first time that they publicly discuss the Senate plan and how it differs from what the House previously passed. WLBT