Mississippi Lawmakers Remove Medicaid Spending Requirement

During a special session on July 30, the Mississippi Legislature voted to remove a restriction that the state's Medicaid program could spend no more than 25% of its budget in any one fiscal quarter, the AP/Biloxi Sun Herald reports (AP/Biloxi Sun Herald, 7/31). On April 12, the Legislature overrode a veto of the Medicaid budget by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D) and passed legislation that prohibits the state from spending any more than one-quarter of its budget during any three-month period of the fiscal year. Lawmakers implemented the provision to make the program more accountable in the face of a $120 million Medicaid budget deficit (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/30). However, state lawmakers this week overturned the requirement, in part because Musgrove said the program will be adequately funded through January, when the Legislature resumes its regular session. State Sen. Jack Gordon (D) said that by easing the spending restriction, the state will be able to "tailor spending to needs" within Medicaid. But state Sen. Charlie Ross (R), who opposed removing the requirement, said the Medicaid program has not demonstrated an ability to stay within its budget and the spending cap should be retained (AP/Biloxi Sun Herald, 7/31).