BY MOLLY MATTHEWS
Contributing Writer, Delta Business Journal

  Last month, legislators passed a new law that increases allowable income for Medicaid recipients - a boost to the Delta's healthcare economy because of its high percentage of Medicaid patients. In the second month of the new gubernatorial regime, only one of 174 legislators - Rep. Keith Montgomery (R-Clinton) - voted against the bill that relaxes Medicaid restrictions. The bill had been introduced under Governor Kirk Fordice's tenure but was shot down when he disapproved of a provision that established a Medical Care Advisory Committee headed by chairmen of the Senate and House Public Health and Welfare Committees. The Governor-appointed Medicaid director can accept or ignore recommendations made by the advisory committee.
  The new law raises the amount of money Medicaid recipients can earn yet remain eligible for assistance. The monthly amount for outside income is increased from $737 to $977, with two-income families remaining eligible while earning up to $1,295.
  "This bill, that was vetoed by Governor Fordice last year, was supposed to go into effect July 1, 1999," said Willis Washington, Jr., interim Medicaid director. "We'll have to investigate whether or not it is retroactive."
  In addition to the newly passed Medicaid legislation, several other healthcare related bills that will affect the Delta have been introduced.
  "The public health committee has done light work so far, but that will soon change," said Senator Neely Carlton (D-Greenville).
  Legislation has been introduced that would give the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure the authority to license PA's. The state board would include a representation of nurse practitioners and PA's on any task force or committee appointed by the board.
  Mississippi is the only state that doesn't license PAs, healthcare professionals that provide physician supervised medical services, such as physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel for preventative healthcare and assist in surgery. About 40 PA's practice in Mississippi, but they are limited to practicing only on military bases or at Veteran Affairs medical centers. Under the proposed bill, PA's would be required to obtain master's degrees, a requirement already necessary for nurse practitioners.
  More than 600 nurse practitioners, licensed by the Mississippi Board of Nursing, work collaboratively with physicians and perform similar duties with the added authority of writing prescriptions for noncontrolled substances.
  Other healthcare legislation in the pipes includes Senate Bill 2321, introduced by David Jordan (D-Greenwood), which would approve a Medicaid waiver for coverage of the chronically ill with hypertension and diabetes, diseases that are prevalent in the Delta. SB2683 would allow mental health counseling services by licensed professional counselors to be reimbursed by Medicaid. SB2796 would provide Medicaid reimbursement for periodic screening and diagnostic services (PSDT) without an age restriction. SB2819 would authorize reimbursement for spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries under the Medicaid program.
House Bill 825, introduced by Joey Grist, Jr. (D-Bruce), would provide for Medicaid reimbursement for certain persons living at home with high drug expenses that would otherwise qualify for services in a nursing home. HB914 would facilitate federal funding under the block grant program for Medicaid.
  "I cannot speculate of what legislation might be pushed," said Washington. "We'll just have to let it go through the system."