Governor Bryant delivered his first State of the State address on Jan. 24. He restated many of the priorities contained in his inauguration speech, providing only a few more details regarding his health care agenda. He did, however, add the following sentiment as part of his remarks regarding reducing teenage pregnancies:
...We know a child born to a teen mother almost always has a difficult path to success. We must change the direction of this reality beginning with the most obvious offender…the adult male. Any adult male who fathers a child with a teenage mother under the age of consent should be sought out and prosecuted as a sexual predator. Every father should know the taxpayers are not responsible for his children. We must continue to use every means possible to successfully collect and distribute child support payments. If you father a child in Mississippi, you will pay for your child ...”
A full transcript of the speech is available courtesy of the Jackson Free Press here. The Democratic response is also available here.
On Jan. 25, the Division of Medicaid provided an overview to members of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Staff Attorney Richard Roberson did an excellent job handling the presentation, with Dr. Dzielak in attendance.
The Division again indicated they are interested in implementing an APR/DRG payment system. Mr. Roberson also expressed Governor Bryant’s desire that the Division seek input from all parties regarding the expansion of managed care. (One interesting statistic contained in the remarks was that 56,000 Mississippians are currently enrolled in the managed care “pilot project”).
