Facebook post warns SB 2477 could cost Mississippi more than $1 billion
A Facebook post warned that Mississippi lawmakers’ consideration of SB 2477 could jeopardize more than $1 billion in federal funding intended to improve rural health care, and blamed Democratic Sen. Hob Bryan, Lt. Gov. Hosemann and other legislators for opposing the plan.
The post said the funding would support the Rural Health Transformation Program, which it described as developed in collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Department of Mental Health and Medicaid. The post said the plan and detailed budget already had been approved by the Trump administration and are subject to federal competitive procurement, monitoring and audit requirements.
According to the post, the Trump administration told Lt. Gov. Hosemann the Legislature should not pass SB 2477. The post also quoted an official it identified as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator saying, “any legislation that attempts to impede or restrict the procurement process will put Mississippi at serious risk of failing to obligate its funding on time.”
The post said SB 2477 would hamper federally qualified health centers, known as FQHCs, that provide primary care in underserved areas such as the Delta. It warned there is a narrow window to obligate the funding and that unspent funds could be redistributed to other states.
The post urged legislators to vote “no” if they are forced to try to override a veto. Because the message was published on social media and details remain contested, this is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
