Miss. Health Law Fight Could Shutter Medicaid Program

The state's attorney general says Gov. Phil Bryant cannot single-handedly reauthorize the state's Medicaid program, setting up a showdown with Democrats who have blocked the program's reauthorization to force the governor's hand on expanding Medicaid.

Stateline: Is Mississippi Headed For Medicaid Shutdown?
The pressure on Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to call a special session on Medicaid expansion has increased after the state attorney general ruled that Medicaid cannot continue without legislative authorization. Bryant, a Republican, had pledged to keep the program running on his own authority when Democrats in the legislature blocked a measure that would have reauthorized the Medicaid program but without the expansion of the Affordable Care Act. Bryant said he didn't need legislative approval (Ollove, 6/20). 

Politico: Mississippi Governor May Lose Medicaid Authority
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant lacks the legal authority to single-handedly run Medicaid in his state should lawmakers fail to renew it amid partisan squabbling over Medicaid expansion, the state's attorney general has determined. The nonbinding opinion by Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood ratchets up the pressure on the Republican governor and state lawmakers to reach a deal to reauthorize the Medicaid program, which is due to expire on June 30 without legislative action (Cheney, 6/21).