Mississippi Catholics are calling on lawmakers to expand a program that provides healthcare to the working poor, saying medical care is a human right.
About 100 Catholics from around the state gathered at St. Peter's Cathedral in Jackson to discuss the lack of healthcare for the working poor. Monsignor Elvin Sunds with the Diocese of Jackson says they want lawmakers to expand Medicaid. He says low-income workers make too much to qualify for the program but don't earn enough to buy insurance.
"These are people who fall up to 138 percent of the poverty level who currently do not qualify for healthcare. This would effect potentially as many as 300,000 Mississippians," said Sunds.
Wanda Thomas with Catholic Charities says the lack of healthcare can lead to other challenges.
"Anxiety, depression, stress, because they aren't able to get that medical healthcare they need, which then poses problems for them being able to work," said Thomas.
The Mississippi Hospital Association reports more than 50 percent of hospitals in the state are in the red and 6 rural hospitals have closed. Tim Moore with the association says they worked on a bill that offers an alternative approach to help more people.
"There's a $20 monthly premium that participants pay. Hospitals then fund the remainder of the premium that the state would be responsible for and then the federal government covers 90 percent," said Moore.
Bills to expand Medicaid died in committees this year. Republican Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann told parishioners they're working on paying more doctors to provide care at health centers around the state.
"I'm think that what we're doing here will be a major positive for the state. It's just finding the doctors and getting them on site," said Hosemann.
Hosemann says it's likely a study group will examine the issue over the summer. The governor has said he's opposed to expanding Medicaid.
