A new bill aimed at improving access to free prenatal care for low-income women in Mississippi has successfully passed the House Medicaid committee. This legislation is designed to expedite prenatal care access under the program known as Medicaid pregnancy presumptive eligibility. Last year’s version of the bill had been approved by the full Legislature but failed to take effect due to inconsistencies between state law and federal regulations.
House Medicaid Chair, Missy McGee, a Republican from Hattiesburg, is the lead sponsor of the bill. McGee has made revisions to the previous bill by eliminating the requirement for women to provide proof of income. She expresses optimism that this updated proposal will receive the same level of support it garnered last year when it was overwhelmingly favored by lawmakers in both chambers.
During the committee’s discussion, McGee highlighted that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had raised concerns regarding the language in the original legislation. After collaborating with stakeholders, it was determined that the necessary adjustments would not compromise the goals of the Legislature or impose additional financial burdens on the program.
Key modifications to the bill stipulate that pregnant women will only need to declare their income without the requirement to present paystubs or other proof of pregnancy. In addition, the time frame for presumptive Medicaid eligibility has been revised. Initially, the legislation allowed women to be eligible for only 60 days, with the intent that they would secure approval for full Medicaid coverage within that period. However, federal guidelines provide a different timeline, which has now been incorporated into this legislation.
The updated federal timeline aligns with McGee’s proposal, indicating that a pregnant woman will remain covered under presumptive eligibility until her formal Medicaid application is processed, regardless of how long it takes, as long as she submits her application within two months of her presumptive eligibility coverage beginning. For instance, if a woman is presumed eligible starting January 1, she must submit her application by February 28, and if Medicaid takes a month to process her application, her coverage will continue through March.
To qualify for this program, a woman must be pregnant and have a household income at or below 194% of the federal poverty level, which translates to around $29,000 annually for an individual. The bill does not create new eligibility criteria or expand current coverage. Instead, it facilitates earlier access to medical care for expectant mothers who qualify for Medicaid. This is particularly significant in Mississippi, where Medicaid eligibility rules are among the most stringent in the nation, often leaving many individuals without coverage until they are pregnant.
