In the 2008 Mississippi legislative session, there will be much discussion on how to fund the growing deficit in our state’s Medicaid program. In the past, the state has increasingly called upon providers – through increased assessments and fees – to balance that deficit. Considering that almost half of the hospitals in our state are operating in the red, it’s just no longer possible.

Medicaid is a state program that needs to be funded with state dollars, not provider dollars. (After all, we don’t ask grocery stores to fund our food stamp program.)

Find out why It Matters! in Mississippi here.

FOR CONSUMERS

Washington Post examines effects of the uninsured on the insured

Guide to Finding Health Insurance in Mississippi

Hospital Compare - This tool provides you with information on how well the hospitals in your area care for all their adult patients with certain medical conditions. (You may also want to check ratings at QualityCheck.org, a quality information site created by the Joint Commission.)

Hospitals in Mississippi - An annual hospital report by the Missisisppi State Department of Health

Mississippi Patient Safety Coalition - Patient safety resources for consumers and health care providers

FOR BUSINESSES

Study: Employer costs for health coverage on rise - Average employer costs for health insurance rose 62% between 1999 and 2005 to $2.59 per employee hour, according to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s nearly three times the 23% average increase in hourly payroll costs over the period, Kaiser said.

Divided We Fail - More than 60 organizations have joined the initiative, launched a year ago by the AARP, Business Roundtable, Service Employees International Union and National Federation of Independent Business. A bipartisan group of 218 members of Congress have signed on as well. The Divided We Fail health care platform calls for affordable care, wellness and prevention efforts, and choices in long-term care.

AHRQ issues incentives guide for health care purchasers - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has published a document to guide employers, health plans and other health care purchasers in using financial incentives to improve health care quality and reduce costs.

Barbour's Health Insurance Exchange plans for small business in Mississippi

ChamberPlus – Health insurance available to small businesses

Health Care in Mississippi

U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Information

Top 10 Health Care Tips for Small Businesses

Economic Impacts of federal Medicaid and CHIP on the county economies

Mississippi’s Uninsured

Take Action...
My Care Counts is a nationwide effort to keep quality health care in our communities. Tell Congress to oppose any cuts that could threaten the health care you depend on. Sign the call to action!