Mississippi Senate Republicans push Medicaid expansion ‘lite’ proposal that would cover fewer people

By MICHAEL GOLDBERG
Associated Press/Report for America

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A proposal to expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of residents in one of the poorest states in the U.S. is still alive in the Mississippi Legislature. But Senate Republicans changed the plan Wednesday so it would cover far fewer people and bring less federal money to the state. A proposal passed by a committee is the only Medicaid expansion plan still alive after Senate Republicans tweaked a House bill rather than advance a separate bill of their own. Senators have dubbed the plan Medicaid expansion “lite.” It could cover about 80,000 people. The House version could cover up to 200,000 people.