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Bill Waller on Health Care
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More accessible, quality health care to address crisis
When nearly half of Mississippi's rural hospitals are in high financial risk of closing, we have a health care crisis in our state. Ignoring the problem is not going to bring about a solution to ensuring access to quality, affordable health care,
particularly in rural areas. [We need] improvements in health care, that reforms Medicaid in a way that doesn't put taxpayers or our state budget at risk, and maximizes Mississippi's potential to bring about more accessible, quality health care.
Source: 2019 Mississippi Governor campaign website BillWallerJr.com
, May 2, 2019
Work with federal government to expand Medicaid in MS
Retired Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. and first-term state Rep. Robert Foster spoke to an audience of about 100 people at the first debate of the 2019 campaign season, each saying he would make a long-term commitment to
increasing teacher pay, improving highways and bridges and making health care more affordable.Both said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion, possibly seeking permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage.
Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for the needy, aged, blind and disabled, and expenses are paid by the federal and state governments. Nearly 721,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid in Mississippi.
Under the federal health law that then-
Pres. Barack Obama signed in 2010, states have the option of expanding Medicaid to the working poor. Mississippi Republican leaders have declined to do so, citing concerns that the federal government might not honor its promise to pay for the expansion.
Source: MS Business Journal on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
, Apr 1, 2019
Address uncompensated care at rural hospitals
The topic of Medicaid and healthcare was an issue that both [Republican candidates Bill Waller and Robert Foster] said Mississippi should consider some sort of Medicaid expansion. Both were careful to call it Medicaid reform saying they would possibly
seek permission from the federal government to let people buy coverage. "Everybody has access to health care in America," said Foster. "The problem is, it's very unaffordable."Waller mentioned the Medicaid plans in
Arkansas, Utah, and Indiana specifically using something similar to Vice President Mike Pence's Indiana Medicaid reform. "We have 31 rural hospitals on the danger list right now and most of it can be attributed to the uncompensated care
that they are forced to give," said Waller. "So yes, we have to look at it. It is a right to life question and it has to be accessible."
Source: NewsMS.FM on 2019 Mississippi gubernatorial race
, Mar 26, 2019
Consider some form of Medicaid expansion in MS
In speaking about his policy priorities, Waller did not hesitate to sketch out differences with Tate Reeves and to contrast himself with the lieutenant governor by name. Indeed, Waller joins a list of Republican candidates for state
office willing to consider some form of Medicaid expansion in the state. "Everything is on the table," Waller said. "We have a healthcare crisis. We want to make sure everyone has access to healthcare."
The Affordable Care Act, often called "ObamaCare," offers significant federal funding for such an expansion of Medicaid eligibility standards. Some states, however, have won permission to expand while imposing certain requirements, including
work requirements.
Waller offered Indiana as an example of just such a such a state, which won federal permission for a modified expansion when now-Vice President Mike Pence was governor.
Source: Tupelo Daily Journal on 2019 Mississippi governor's race
, Mar 12, 2019
Page last updated: Apr 15, 2020
