On Tuesday, Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) invoked a legislative maneuver to revive his bill to expand Medicaid coverage from 60 to one year after delivery. Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) had already killed the bill this month despite the pleas of doctors and medical experts that extended coverage would lower maternal mortality rates and improve outcomes for families and babies in a state with the highest infant mortality rate. The Senate voted with little opposition to Blackwell’s Tuesday night resolution to suspend the rules. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who preside over the Senate, had promised to “appeal (Gunn’s) Christian values” in an effort to persuade the senator to support the extension of postpartum Medicaid. The House now has to pass the resolution. The Senate could take up Blackwell’s bill again if the House approves the resolution and send it back to them. Gunn stated his opposition to Medicaid expansion when Gunn was asked why he didn’t support the bill. Blackwell’s legislation will not expand Medicaid eligibility. It would instead extend coverage to those who are already eligible. On Tuesday night, Blackwell said to Mississippi Today that he isn’t optimistic about the House’s prospects for the legislation. He said, “I hope they will take it up but I think they’ll just let the legislation die.” “The speaker calls this expansion when it isn’t.” Gunn’s communications director Emily Simmons said Tuesday night that she couldn’t comment on Tuesday because her office hadn’t had the opportunity to review Blackwell’s resolution. Gunn stated to Mississippi Today that there were many opinions on whether the bill expands Medicaid. Gunn stated that he opposed Medicaid expansion and that he believes we should work to remove people from Medicaid. Doctors and advocates for infant and women’s health in Mississippi were outraged by the apparent end of the Medicaid extension postpartum earlier in the session. Mississippi Today’s Cassandra Welchlin said that she feels like they are trying to play politics with women’s lives. She is co-convener of the Roundtable for Mississippi Black Women. A 2019 report by the health department on maternal mortality in Mississippi examined every case of pregnancy-related death that occurred between 2013 and 2016. Nearly 40% of such deaths took place more than six weeks after the birth, according to the report. The most common causes of death were heart conditions and hypertensive disorder. Black women in Mississippi are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. The federal government prevented states from cutting off Medicaid coverage during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This has allowed Mississippi mothers to continue to have coverage even after giving birth. They will lose coverage 60 days after delivery if the emergency declaration expires. This is likely to happen sometime in this year. Senator Angela Burks Hill (R-Picayune) asked Blackwell if he knew that women can now get Medicaid coverage without having to go to a doctor or undergo any tests to prove they are pregnant. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid states that “self-attestation of pregnancy” is enough to be eligible for coverage, provided they meet income requirements. Medicaid may require verification if claims data or information that conflicts with the self-attestation is not provided. Hill stated that Medicaid could allow people to get on Medicaid even if they are not pregnant. Are you aware that this is postpartum? Blackwell replied, “And that happens after birth.” He continued, “Everybody is pro-life and if youre pro-life you’d support this bill.” Hill stated that she was pro-life and that her church is in a relationship to a crisis pregnancy centre, which advises pregnant women not get abortions. She said, “Don’t tell my I’m not prolife because I don’t support this bill.” Hill and at most five other senators voted in opposition to the suspension of rules.