Mississippi’s infant mortality rate reaches five-year high
Mississippi’s infant mortality rate reached a five-year high in 2021, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death rate of babies under one year of age rose from 8.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020 to 9.39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, the most recent […]
Greenwood Leflore Hospital hits another roadblock in struggle to stay open
A financially struggling Delta hospital received another bit of bad news: its application for a federal designation that would bring in more money has been initially denied. The regional Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services office in Atlanta has declined to designate the Greenwood hospital as a critical access hospital, according to a letter the […]
Likely new Speaker Jason White says Medicaid expansion ‘will be on table’
Republican Rep. Jason White, heir apparent to the House speakership, said Medicaid expansion, long a bugaboo for the state GOP, will be on the table and at least thoroughly vetted as a solution to Mississippi’s health care crisis next year. “I think we as Republicans have probably earned a little bit of the bad rap […]
Former Gov. Steve Beshear: Medicaid expansion changed course of Kentucky history
When former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear took office in 2007, the Bluegrass State had many challenges — not the least of which was lack of health care for working folks — and limited resources to address them. “Kentucky faced a number of fundamental weaknesses, not unlike Mississippi and a lot of other Southern states,” Beshear […]
An increasing number of Mississippians are being hospitalized for COVID-19, data shows
Coronavirus cases appear to be rising in Mississippi again. There were 121 hospital admissions for COVID-19 in the state during the week ending on Aug. 12, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s a 21% increase from the previous week. That same week,1,413 Mississippians reported coronavirus-like illnesses, according to the […]
Gov. Tate Reeves apparently met about Medicaid. No one will say what was discussed.
Gov. Tate Reeves, who has continued to staunchly oppose expanding Medicaid in Mississippi, appears to have attended a meeting in May about “Medicaid policies,” according to his official calendar. But no one with the governor’s office or the Division of Medicaid will discuss the purpose of the meeting, which Mississippi Today discovered through a records […]
Five things to know about the new drug pricing negotiations
The Biden administration has picked the first 10 high-priced prescription drugs subject to federal price negotiations, taking a swipe at the powerful pharmaceutical industry. It marks a major turning point in a long-fought battle to control ever-rising drug prices for seniors and, eventually, other Americans. Under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Congress gave the federal […]
At least three Mississippi hospitals aim to end inpatient services, convert to rural emergency status
As the state’s health care crisis persists, four more Mississippi hospitals have applied to become rural emergency hospitals, a federal designation meant to increase their financial viability. The “rural emergency hospital” designation – a move State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney likened to a hospital closure – was rolled out at the beginning of this […]
Q&A: Harvard Chan’s Program Leadership weighs in on improving Mississippi’s public health
Reporter Pam Dankins spoke with Jocelyn Chu, director of the community engaged learning fellowships program at Harvard University, and Bizu Gelaye, program director for the Mississippi Delta Partnership in Public Health program at Harvard University, about the importance of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health initiatives and its efforts to influence positive public health […]
Greenwood Leflore Hospital goes up for lease, again
Last summer, Greenwood Leflore Hospital was on the brink of closure and up for lease. Now, despite applying for grants from the Legislature, closing several service lines and requesting a more lucrative hospital designation, the hospital is back to square one: it’s going up for lease again. Greenwood’s hospital is co-owned by the city and […]