/Hosemann wants to shun the term ‘Medicaid expansion’ Is he appealing to Gunn, Reeves

Hosemann wants to shun the term ‘Medicaid expansion’ Is he appealing to Gunn, Reeves

Although Hosemann doesn’t use the phrase “better angels”, it is evident that he is appealing directly to them. Hosemann also doesn’t want to use the phrase “Medicaid expansion.” He would rather talk about everyday situations of Mississippians who are suffering and who have to die due to lack of access to health insurance. Hosemann stated that legislation to expand health care access to Mississippians will be passed “when we focus on real people Mississippians… who really suffer, who don’t need to be, and who are leaving their children motherless.” Hosemann was recently asked about expanding Medicaid. “What is the expansion of Medicaid?” Hosemann asked. Hosemann replied, “That is a lazy question.” “What you should be asking yourself is how will we cover Mississippians who have severe illnesses?” Hosemann said that the real question is how are we going to cover people in Mississippi who have catastrophic illnesses? In fairness to the media however, the original Medicaid program was established in the 1960s. Social Security was created in 1930s. However, their names have not changed. In fairness to the lieutenant Governor, he knows the importance of providing access to health care. However, because of the state’s political rhetoric, he cannot say the obvious: Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, is the best and most cost-efficient way of providing health care. According to estimates, Medicaid expansion will allow between 100,000 and 300,000 Mississippians who are primarily employed, but have no insurance, to receive health care. The federal government will pay the bulk of the costs. Multiple studies have shown that Medicaid expansion will help the state save money due to the influx federal funds. Governor Mike Pence and House Speaker Philip Gunn are the two people who make it almost impossible to expand Medicaid here in Mississippi. House Speaker Philip Gunn and Tate Reeves are two politicians who make it nearly impossible to expand Medicaid in Mississippi. They often declare their opposition to Obamacare. Hosemann may be appealing to Gunn and Reeves’ better angels by turning his attention to Mississippians and ignoring political rhetoric. Hosemann often speaks of the importance their Christian faith and is perhaps appealing to them. This is because Gunn could — some believe likely — face off against Reeves during the 2023 Republican primary for Governor. And because of the staunch Mississippi Republicans voting in that primary, neither candidate would want to be perceived as supporting Obamacare. Recent polling suggests that Mississippi politicians might not be as afraid of Obamacare. A poll conducted by AARP in January 2022 found that 68% of Mississippians aged 50 and over, 57% of Republicans, support expanding Medicaid. Similar results have been reported by other polls such as the ones conducted by Chism Research and Millsaps College. However, Gunn and Reeves remain unmoved by polls. Gunn stated last week that he doesn’t believe Medicaid expansion is feasible. “Personallly, I don’t support it. It’s something I have always stated that I oppose. That is not how I see Mississippi moving forward. We must be looking at ways to get people off Medicaid and not make them go on Medicaid. But the bottom line, it’s all academic discussion until we’ve got the voters (in the supermajority Republican Legislature), which I don’t believe the votes exist.” Hosemann knows the hard truth: as long as Gunn or Reeves oppose the vote, they won’t exist. Hosemann would prefer to tell the story about a Greenwood mother who was a clerk at a grocery store and married a mechanic. She was not covered by health insurance, as she is like many people who work in similar jobs. She could not afford private insurance because her employer didn’t provide it. Because she did not have insurance, she delayed seeking treatment for breast cancer. Hosemann stated that they were able to give her palliative care, and she died as soon as she reached the hospital. “And that’s what is happening in Mississippi to the working people… I think it’s time to focus on how we offer health care to Mississippians. Hosemann believes that Mississippians will listen to their higher angels if we do this.