Mississippi Governor Reiterates Request for More ‘Authority’ over Medicaid Program

Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D) on April 19 again asked state lawmakers to pass legislation giving him "considerable administrative authority and flexibility" over the state's Medicaid program, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. The state House had passed a measure earlier in the legislative session that would give Musgrove such authority, but the bill died in the state Senate before the session ended two weeks ago. State Rep. Steve Holland (D), who handles the Medicaid budget in the House, said he supports giving Musgrove greater authority to run the program. But Senate leaders "expressed disappointment" with Musgrove's request, and Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck (D), who presides over the Senate, said the governor should "outline the specific steps" that he would take if afforded the authority and then ask the state attorney general if such actions would be legal. Musgrove on April 19 also asked lawmakers to appropriate an additional $75 million for Medicaid. On April 9, Musgrove vetoed a bill that would have allocated $349 million for the program, next year, saying the amount was too little, but the Legislature overrode the veto on April 12. Medicaid officials say the program needs a total of $537 million in state funds (Branson, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 4/20). Musgrove has said that without additional funds, 13,000 Medicaid beneficiaries would no longer be able to receive care in nursing homes, and thousands more beneficiaries would lose their prescription drug benefits (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/15).