MPHA supports key health policies that support improved health outcomes for all Mississippians. After all, healthy communities enhance economic development efforts and ensure a productive workforce statewide. MPHA supports the following state health policy and advocacy issues during the 2019 Legislative Session.
MPHA 2022 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
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MPHA 2021 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Download the MPHA 2021 Legislative Agenda >>
Supporting a strong statewide public health infrastructure through adequate funding and hiring flexibility for the Mississippi State Department of Health
Especially in light of the COVID19 pandemic, MPHA supports Mississippi having a strong statewide public health infrastructure to protect and promote the health of all people in Mississippi.
Background:
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), like many other jurisdictions across the country, has experienced a decade or more or systemic funding cuts and restrictions that have affected its ability to both address its routine According to a 2020 report by the Trust for America’s Health, the United States spends an estimated $3.6 trillion annually on health, but less than 3 percent of that spending is directed toward public health and prevention. Public health spending as a proportion of total health spending has been decreasing since 2000 and falling in inflation-adjusted terms since the Great Recession. Health departments across the country are battling 21st-century health threats with 20th century resources. The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates this reality in the starkest of terms.
Why It Matters:
Investment in public health programs saves money by preventing injury and illness, which is particularly important as the population ages and as we continue to balance attention to chronic illnesses with natural disasters and with outbreaks such as COVID19. Mississippians deserve a strong public health infrastructure that includes funds to strengthening the public health workforce, modernizing the system’s data and surveillance capacities, safe-guarding and improving everyone’s health by investing in chronic disease prevention; improving emergency preparedness, including preparation for weather-related events and infectious disease outbreaks, and addressing the social determinants of health and advancing health equity.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
MPHA knows that the MSDH cannot continue to provide the high quality of services that it is known for without a stable and consistent source of funding, as well as the ability to hire public health professionals who are highly qualified to do the jobs that are most needed.
Fund essential health services by increasing taxes on state-sold tobacco products
MPHA, with more than 65 other Mississippi health organizations, supports a $1.50 per pack tax increase on cigarettes to generate approximately $153 million in new revenue and reduce Medicaid expenditures.
Background:
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. In Mississippi, smoking costs an estimated $1.23 billion in direct health care costs, including $319 million in tobacco-related disease costs covered by Medicaid.
Why It Matters:
Not only can the proposed tax increase prevent over 11,000 smoking-related deaths and stop as many as 16,400 children from becoming adult smokers in Mississippi, but the estimated $153 million generated will support essential public health services statewide. MPHA also supports raising state tax rates for other tobacco products to parallel the increase in the cigarette tax rate. MPHA also supports the inclusion of e-cigarettes in any tax increase on tobacco products.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
Increasing taxes on state-sold tobacco products is a reasonable and cost-effective public health policy that will save lives and money as well as provide much needed resources for our public health system.
Supporting a universal smoke-free air policy statewide
MPHA supports a universal statewide smoke-free air policy to reduce exposure to the health effects of secondhand smoke.
Background:
Mississippi is a largely rural state, with many of its residents living in unincorporated regions. In Mississippi only 30.5% of the population is protected by smoke free laws. Although there are over 140 comprehensive smoke free ordinances throughout the state, there is no statewide smoke free law to protect working from secondhand smoke. Consequentially, thousands of workers continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in workplaces including restaurants, bars, private clubs, and casinos.
Why It Matters:
Mississippi is 1 of 10 “Most Challenged” states based on health outcomes according to the United Health Foundation “America’s Health Rankings Annual Report,” ranking 49th out of 50. Secondhand smoke has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Group A carcinogen, causally linked to causing cancer in humans.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Exposure to tobacco smoke causes damage to blood vessels which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and lung disease. Chemicals in tobacco smoke also affect unborn babies as the chemicals in tobacco smoke increase the risks for miscarriages and low birthweight babies. Exposure to secondhand smoke ultimately affects the health of everyone either directly or indirectly.
Ensure affordable, and high-quality public health insurance programs to women of reproductive age
MPHA supports the expansion of Medicaid coverage for women of reproductive age.
Background:
Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity and is also associated with other severe social and economic consequences, and its prevalence is higher in the US than in other developed nations. Survival rates for African American mothers and their infants are even bleaker. African American women across the economic spectrum are dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications at three to four times the rate of non-Hispanic white women, and the death rate for black infants is twice that of infants born to non-Hispanic white mothers.
Why It Matters:
About 17% of babies in Mississippi are born preterm. Compared to a national average of about 12%, this puts the state among the top five in the rate of premature births each year. The problem is even greater for minorities, particularly African-American women, where rates can be greater than 20% — one child in five. Greater than 60% of births in Mississippi are paid for by Medicaid.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
In some states and among specific racial and ethnic groups, policy changes have brought about improvements. MPHA recommends the following policy actions to address disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes: Increase access to health insurance programs to women before pregnancy. Research shows one of the best opportunities to achieve healthy pregnancies is to improve the health of all women before they become pregnant. Medicaid expansion to cover individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level can play an essential role in improving maternal and infant health. A growing number of studies indicate that Medicaid expansion has reduced the rate of women of childbearing age who are uninsured, improved health outcomes and helped to reduce racial health disparities, including lower rates of premature birth and low birthweight for African-American infants in expansion states.
Increase access to comprehensive healthcare coverage for post-partum women to 12 months. Medicaid maternity coverage ends 60 days after giving birth, ending access to care at a time when risks of maternal complications and death persist.
Protect immunization requirements for the children of Mississippi
MPHA opposes any policy changes that allow philosophical exemptions for childhood immunizations.
Background:
Mississippi ranks 1st nationwide for the rate of children immunized and its low incidence of vaccine- preventable disease outbreaks. Immunizations against many childhood diseases are currently required by law for children to enter Mississippi schools and childcare centers, although state physicians may grant limited exemptions for medical reasons. The state’s longstanding immunization requirement for school entry was upheld by the state Supreme Court in 1979. In 2015, the Mississippi Senate passed a resolution to recognize public and private healthcare providers statewide for achieving the highest kindergarten vaccination rates in the United States. A variety of studies on vaccine safety recently examined the adverse events associated with childhood immunizations. These events are extremely rare, and the absolute risk is low. Research has confirmed a relationship between the ease of obtaining an immunization exemption and the increase of a community’s disease risk. Communities with low immunization rates have experienced a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Why It Matters:
Incomplete immunization coverage increases the risk of disease for everyone, including those who have been immunized and those who cannot be immunized for medical reasons. Research demonstrates the benefits of immunizations far outweigh any risk.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
Laws protecting childhood immunizations help families stay active, healthy, and productive, as well protecting the public’s health.
Ensure access to health insurance in Mississippi
MPHA supports legislation that ensures access to affordable health insurance coverage in Mississippi.
Background:
Approximately 1 out of 7 Mississippians lacks any health insurance coverage. This is one of the top uninsured rates nationwide. Residents without health insurance are typically younger, low-wage workers who do not have access to employer-sponsored coverage, do not qualify for public coverage, or are not eligible for the state Medicaid health insurance program due to eligibility limitations. Healthcare access is an important factor in preventing disease and disability, detecting, and treating illnesses, increasing quality of life, reducing the likelihood of premature death, and increasing life expectancy. This situation has been especially problematic as the state has encountered the effects of COVID19.
Why It Matters:
Residents who lack health insurance coverage face delays in receiving healthcare services, particularly healthcare services that support the maintenance of good health. This places economic hardships on families without coverage who require medical care. Lack of insurance coverage jeopardizes the fiscal stability of hospitals, particularly in rural areas, where higher numbers of uninsured residents live. Hospital closures due to fiscal instability can limit access to and increase the economic burden of health care on all Mississippi taxpayers.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
Laws enabling Mississippians to gain and keep health insurance coverage allows access to health services that improve residents’ health and stabilizes payment mechanisms for health service organizations to sustain the provision of healthcare services.
Supporting a strong State Employees’ Retirement System
MPHA supports a strong and consistent Public Employees’ Retirement System as part of a strong public health infrastructure.
Background:
The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) serves the state of Mississippi by providing retirement benefits for individuals working in state government, public schools, universities, community colleges, municipalities, counties, the Legislature, highway patrol, and other such public entities. These retirement benefits not only help recruit and retain a strong public workforce in Mississippi, they help stimulate local economies in every county in the state and help reduce the need for social assistance.
Why It Matters:
Many members of the public health workforce participate in the PERS Retirement System. Having strong retirement benefits for these public health workers is an important factor in recruitment of retention of highly qualified public health professionals. A solid and consistent public health workforce is key to a strong, viable and equitable public health infrastructure.
Why MPHA Supports This Initiative:
PERS law can be found in Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11 (1972, as amended). In any given year, legislation has been introduced to limit the benefits provided under the PERS system. When limits to these benefits are approved, they have negative consequences for both the individual and the public health system. MPHA supports a strong and consistent PERS. It is good for the state of Mississippi.
PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS
MPHA Resolution Supporting Mississippi State Department of Health Funding and Pay Increases >>
MPHA Resolution Supporting Banning All Texting While Driving >>
MPHA Resolution Supporting Maintaining the Current Immunization Laws in MS >>