Mississippi

The American Heart Association is working to improve health care coverage for low-income families and individuals; it is critically important to our efforts in making Mississippi healthier through Medicaid. Medicaid is an important lifeline for low-income patients to receive the care that they so desperately need. Moreover, increased coverage is the gateway to improving public health and reducing the chronic disease burden in Mississippi.

We are at a critical point in this fight, which is why we have joined forces with various organizations to create the Mississippi Health Care Access coalition. Several partner organizations include the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Catholic Charities, Forest General Hospital, and the Mississippi Economic Policy Center just to name a few. Together, we advocate for better access and quality of health care for Mississippians. By expanding health care to more Mississippians, we will create a healthier state and workforce. In turn, we'll save lives and money.  

Coalition partners are holding public education forums across the state to educate the public and lawmakers on the need to expand health care coverage for Mississippians. There are several forums left.

• May 11th – Tupelo and Meridian
• May 14th – Vicksburg
• May 16th – Moss Points and Pass Christian
• May 18th – Greenville and Columbus
• May 22nd – Jackson

If you're interested in attending, contact us at gsa.advocacy@heart.org.

The Mississippi State Legislature adjourned sine die a few days early on Thursday, April 4!  There is a tradition at the State Capitol that on the day of final adjournment, aka SINE DIE, each legislator receives a tomato plant on his desk.

Below are some of the good and the bad from the 2013 legislative session.

• Interagency Farm to School Council -  The bill will establish an Interagency Farm to School Council to facilitate the procurement and use of locally grown and locally raised agricultural products in school meals in order to improve the quality of food served in schools and to support the state economy by generating new income for Mississippi farmers.  Farm to School programs strengthen local economies, improves the livelihood of local farmers, and spurs additional spending on other local products and services. 
• The “Anti-Bloomberg” Bill -  This bill, now law, goes much further than simply prohibiting local governments from limiting the sizes of drinks.  This law will put severe limits on the ways that local governments can promote healthy foods and programs.  Additionally, due to broad language, it is unclear which local rights the measure is proposing to take away from cities and counties; this includes programs and ordinances that are already in existence.  The American Heart Association opposes any legislation that restricts local governments from addressing the health concerns of its citizens. 
• The Healthy Food Retail Act -  Unfortunately, this bill got caught up in the process and didn't pass the conference committee.  It would have given incentives to small grocers to open in areas that are considered “food deserts” in order to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to underserved areas.  
• Access and Quality of Healthcare -  The American Heart Association and other organizations will continue to work to improve health care coverage for low-income families and individuals.  Medicaid is an important lifeline for low-income patients to receive the care that they so desperately need.  Moreover, increased coverage is the gateway to improving public health and reducing the chronic disease burden in Mississippi.  Legislators will have to be called back to a Special Session in order to reauthorize and fund Medicaid, as well as hopefully have a debate and vote on Medicaid Expansion.  Stay tuned for more on this issue!

Thank you to all You're the Cure advocates who contacted their lawmakers in support of our issues, signed letters to the editor, and much more. We truly count on your voice to pass legislation that builds healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, in Mississippi.

On Wednesday, March 27^th, over 200 people were in attendance to advocate at the press conference held at the MS State Capitol asking state legislators to please consider options to provide more access and better quality healthcare for Mississippians.

Over the Easter weekend and on Monday, April 1st, the House failed to pass the Medicaid appropriations bill.  This was a strategic move made in order to keep the likelihood of having a debate and vote on Medicaid expansion possible during a special session.  However, even if the appropriations had passed, the Division of Medicaid will sunset on July 1st because 2 weeks earlier, the vote to re-authorize the division failed.  The Governor will now have to call a special session to continue to work on Medicaid and Medicaid expansion. 

The AHA and other organizations are working to improve health care coverage for low-income families and individuals is critically important to our efforts in making Mississippi healthier through Medicaid.  Medicaid is an important lifeline for low-income patients to receive the care that they so desperately need. Moreover, increased coverage is the gateway to improving public health and reducing the chronic disease burden in Mississippi.  We are at a critical point in this fight, which is why the AHA has joined forces with organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Catholic Charities, Forest General Hospital, and the Mississippi Economic Policy Center just to name a few.  We have formed a coalition called Mississippi Health Care Access to advocate for better access and quality of health care for Mississippians. 

By expanding health care to more Mississippians, we will in turn, save lives and save money by creating a healthier Mississippi and a healthier workforce.  For more information about the coalition, go to www.accessms.org.

Rep. Toby Barker introduced House Bill 718 to establish an Interagency Farm to School Council to facilitate the procurement and use of locally grown and locally raised agricultural products in school meals.  The bill has passed the Senate and, last week, was agreed on by the House.  The bill awaits the Speaker’s signature and then it will go to the governor for his final signature. 

If signed into law, the Interagency Farm to School Council will help improve the quality of food served in schools and support the state economy by generating new income for Mississippi farmers.  Farm to School programs strengthen local economies, improves the livelihood of local farmers, and spurs additional spending on other local products and services.

Senate Bill 2687 relating to menu labeling preemption was passed out of the House and signed by both the Speaker of the House and the Lt. Governor. This bill is now on Governor Bryant’s desk, where he has said he will sign it. We are very disappointed in his decision.

However, there is still time! We have until Monday, March 18th to let our voices be heard. This is not just an “anti-Bloomberg bill”. Since the bill is so broadly written, it will have many unintended consequences; one being that it could possibly prohibit cities from promoting healthy foods and healthy programs.

Call (601) 359-3150 and leave the following message at Governor Bryant's office:

Please VETO Senate Bill 2687! Senate Bill 2687 is not right for Mississippi! Passing legislation that will restrict my city's ability to become healthier is a step in the wrong direction and the State of Mississippi cannot afford to move backwards in addressing the growing epidemic of obesity.

The American Heart Association opposes any legislation that restricts local governments from addressing the health concerns of its citizens. Additionally, Senate Bill 2687 is so broadly written that it is unclear what local rights the measure is even proposing to take away from cities and counties – this includes programs and ordinances that are already in existence. Passing a bill that would be this restrictive is a step in the wrong direction.

Hurry and tell Governor Bryant that we cannot afford to take a step backward in the fight to make our state healthier.

This week, the last bill alive (Senate Bill 2207) that would re-authorize the state's Medicaid program died. However, a House Medicaid hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 11^th at 1:00 pm at the State Capitol.  

The American Heart Association and other organizations are working to improve health care coverage for low-income families and individuals. This is critically important to our efforts in making Mississippi healthier through Medicaid. Medicaid is an important lifeline for low-income patients to receive the care that they so desperately need. Moreover, increased coverage is the gateway to improving public health and reducing the chronic disease burden in Mississippi. 

We are looking for heart disease and stroke patients who are not covered by Medicaid or do not have insurance.  If you know of anyone that  fits into either of these categories, please have them reach out to us at katherine.bryant@heart.org. 

This week at the State Capitol, the House and Senate voted in favor of restricting the ways your local government can improve the health of its community. House Bill 1182 passed the Senate floor and Senate Bill 2687 passed the House floor. These bills are now headed to the Governor’s desk for him to sign into law. We are working hard to get Governor Bryant to veto these bills and need your help!

Call the Governor's office today at (601) 359-3150 and leave the following message:

Please VETO Senate Bill 2687 and House Bill 1182! These bills are not right for Mississippi. Passing legislation that will restrict my city’s ability to become healthier is a step in the wrong direction and the State of Mississippi cannot afford to move backwards in addressing the growing epidemic of obesity.

A joint letter was sent to the Governor by the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Mississippi Municipal League and the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. In the letter, we gave our reasons for opposition and asked for the Governor for a veto. We feel that these bills were fast-tracked by an organization outside of the state and are not right for Mississippi. More time, research and education need to be done to figure out what is best for our state. 

The American Heart Association opposes any legislation that restricts local governments from addressing the health concerns of its citizens. Additionally, these bills are so broad that it is unclear what local rights the measure is even proposing to take away from cities and counties; this is including programs and ordinances that are already in existence.

Will you please hurry and call the Governor's office today? Together, we can protect your local government's right to choose how they'd like to improve the health of their community.

Great news! The McComb City Council has expressed interest in strengthening its partial smoke free ordinance. A VERY tight timeline has been set. On Tuesday, April 23rd the public comments meeting is at 5 pm followed by the regular meeting with a vote at 5:30 pm. Please contact Cindy Estes at mtfc_paw@ymail.com or 601.754.0220 with any way you can help.  

Click here to see the most up-to-date map of Mississippi's 68 smoke free municipalities.

Week 8 at the Capitol has wrapped up. If you recall, House Bill 1182 was referred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and Senate Bill 2687 was referred to the House Public Health and Human Services Committee. These bills have not been heard in committee yet, but will within the next couple of days. It is imperative that you tell leadership that these bills MUST NOT move forward! An alert will be sent out on Monday, March 4th so you can help out with these efforts.  

The American Heart Association opposes any legislation that restricts local governments from addressing the health concerns of its citizens. Additionally, these bills are so broad that it is unclear what local rights the measure is even proposing to take away from cities and counties – this is including programs and ordinances that are already in existence. Passing a bill that would be this restrictive is a step in the wrong direction and the State of Mississippi cannot afford to move backwards in addressing the growing epidemic of an unhealthy population. 

During week 7 of session, two menu labeling preemption bills continued through the legislative process. House Bill 1182 was referred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Senate Bill 2687 was referred to the House Public Health and Human Services Committee.

The American Heart Association opposes any legislation that restricts local governments from addressing the health concerns of its citizens.  Additionally, these bills are so broad that it is unclear what local rights the measure is even proposing to take away from cities and counties – this is including programs and ordinances that are already in existence.  Passing a bill that would be this restrictive is a step in the wrong direction and the State of Mississippi cannot afford to move backwards in addressing the growing epidemic of an unhealthy population. 

Stay tuned for action alerts on this issue!