Policy Points
Proposal for implementing a mental health first responder training program to reduce youth incarceration in Mississippi
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024Written by Omkar Ghodke, University of Mississippi Winner of the Terence Downer Scholarship Executive Summary Mississippi is facing a serious youth mental health crisis that contributes to rising juvenile incarceration rates and suicides. Youth in rural areas, in particular, struggle … Continue reading
Establishment of presumptive eligibility for pregnant women (PEPW) in Mississippi
Tuesday, December 5th, 2023Written by Prachi Prajapati Executive summary The recent expansion of postpartum care coverage in Mississippi is the first step towards improvement of maternal and infant health outcomes. The focus should now move to provision of appropriate and necessary prenatal care … Continue reading
The Medicaid Unwinding: Expectations and Estimations
Wednesday, June 21st, 2023Written by Sarah Scarborough The pandemic tested Medicaid and health departments across the nation. Health systems were overwhelmed with a large influx of patients and demand for healthcare coverage. Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)[1] in response … Continue reading
Drug Overdose Deaths in Mississippi
Up 52.3% from April 2020 to April 2021Friday, November 19th, 2021Written by Larry L. Smith, Ph. D. The National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Vital Statistics Rapid Release of Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts at the US and State level. Based … Continue reading
Mississippi Healthcare Providers Need Continuing Education If State Passes a Medical Marijuana Program (MMP)
Wednesday, September 8th, 2021Written by the Center for Mississippi Health Policy staff with contributions from University of Mississippi Medical Center students participating in a Fellowship with the Center to study health policy. FIG. 1 Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure Rule 2.1 “Every Mississippi … Continue reading
Comprehensive Maternal Health Coverage
Monday, February 22nd, 2021By Eden Blackwell Women need quality healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy for the best outcomes for moms and their babies. Through Medicaid, pregnant women with household incomes of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) can gain … Continue reading
The Medicaid Family Planning Waiver:
One tool in the box to support maternal and child health in MississippiWednesday, January 15th, 2020By Eden Blackwell Since the early 2000’s the United States experienced a rise in the number of preventable pregnancy-related deaths as well as maternal and infant illness despite broader access to healthcare through insurance, managed care, and health educators. Mississippi … Continue reading
How the Medical Loss Ratio Impacts Mississippi
Tuesday, September 24th, 2019by Zach Smith The Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provision, an often-forgotten part of the Affordable Care Act behind more well-known provisions, such as individuals being allowed access to insurance with a pre-existing condition or individuals being allowed to stay on … Continue reading
The Importance of Comprehensive Contraceptive Counseling
Monday, August 12th, 2019by Eden Blackwell It has been nearly 60 years since birth control pills became available to women in the United States. Since that time many forms of birth control have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Over … Continue reading
Freestanding Emergency Departments and Micro-Hospitals:
Two Models That May Help Mississippi Communities Affected by Rural Hospital ClosuresMonday, July 8th, 2019by Zach Smith In a recent report by Navigant Consulting, 48% of Mississippi’s rural hospitals were rated as a high financial risk. The reasons for rural hospital closures in Mississippi, as nationwide, vary as do the possible solutions. Reasons for … Continue reading
A Quick Look at Contraceptive Access in Mississippi
Friday, May 17th, 2019By Eden Blackwell Women in Mississippi give birth to around 38,000 babies per year on average (though the number is declining in step with birth rates around the region and nation). As explained earlier in the Center’s Unintended Pregnancy in … Continue reading
Mississippi Highlighted in the Plan to Eradicate HIV/AIDs
Tuesday, April 16th, 2019By Zach Smith In the Trump administration’s most recent fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget approximately $291 million dollars has been allocated to defeat the HIV/AIDs epidemic in America. With the advancements in HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) … Continue reading
Welcome to Policy Points
Thursday, February 21st, 2019By Zach Smith and Eden Blackwell Data, always key in the Center’s work, have been the cornerstone of successful public health interventions since John Snow saved the lives of hundreds in London’s 1854 cholera outbreak through the data-informed removal of … Continue reading