As the Legislature continues to put together the Fiscal Year 2019 budget, the House did not approve the appropriations bill for the Mississippi Department of Medicaid. The House members decided to recommit to conference to continue deliberation in order to preserve a separate Medicaid Department technical amend bill. The technical bill details how the agency will spend $6 billion annually, while the appropriations bill details how much money it will receive. The state Hospital Association and the insurers responsible for paying them are fighting over the technical bill. Mississippi True, a provider-run insurance plan, lost an attempt last summer to be one of Medicaid’s managed care contractors. The group has been lobbying for inclusion. Both chambers submitted conference reports on Saturday by 8 p.m., but Senate leaders warned that the Medicaid tech bill was stuck in a deadlock because the House wants to please the powerful interests group by giving Mississippi True a piece of the managed care budget. Rep. Becky Currie (R-Brookhaven) moved on Sunday to recommit Medicaid appropriations to a conference panel for the purpose adding the technical bill from the Medicaid agency to the conference report. She claimed that the House would not be able to pass the Medicaid appropriations bill without ensuring that the technical bill survives. Currie stated, “If we send this bill and we transfer the money to Medicaid we don’t have any authority anymore.” Currie said, “I like the governor, but I don’t want to go home and say to my people, ‘I just stood there and took it.'” Currie was referring specifically to the possibility that Gov. Phil Bryant would take over supervision of the Medicaid Department. Currie stated, “We’ve been here from January 2nd and all that we’ve heard at the other end is crickets.” Their chairman does not have the authority to meet up with us and work out a bill. This bill must be sent back. “We’ve got to be able to see the spine.” Rep. Robert Foster (R-Hernando) tried to kill her motion by tabling and it was defeated on voice vote. John Read, R-Gautier was the chairman of House Appropriations. He warned about the consequences of recommitting her bill. He also pointed out that the agency could be unfunded if neither chambers reached an agreement. The governor refused to call a special session in order to allow another attempt at resolving the impasse. Read stated, “I believe this is a poor move.” “I hate to admit that I voted to end Medicaid funding,” Read said. The bill’s deadline is Monday. Lt. Governor. Laura Hipp, spokesperson for Tate Reeves, said that it was possible that the two chambers could come to a compromise. “Sen. (Brice) Wiggins met with Rep. (Jason) White, other House members, as well as Lt. Gov. Hipp stated that Reeves hopes to reach an agreement by Monday’s deadline.