Advocating for Heart Health: Our 2025 State Policy Priorities
Everyone deserves the chance to live a long, healthy life. That’s why we’re focused on advancing policies that improve cardiovascular health and reduce the impact of heart disease and stroke. As we look ahead, these are the key state and community priorities we’re championing across Mississippi.
State Policy Priorities
Emergency Preparedness
Preparing Schools for Cardiac Emergencies
Every second counts in a cardiac emergency – especially during school athletic events. We support policies that require public schools to develop, implement, and maintain Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) for athletic facilities and events. These plans help ensure staff are prepared to respond quickly and effectively, giving students the best chance of survival and recovery when every moment matters.
Investing in Cardiac Emergency Response Plans
We’re advocating for dedicated public funding to help schools implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) and Athletic Emergency Action Plans (aEAPs), with a focus on supporting high-needs schools. These life-saving plans ensure that schools are equipped and prepared to respond quickly and effectively to cardiac emergencies during athletic events—because every student deserves a safe environment, no matter where they live or play.
Access to Care
Empower Patients with At-Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
High blood pressure is the easiest modifiable risk factor for better heart health – yet it often goes unnoticed. Self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring empowers people to track their numbers at home, increasing awareness and control over their health. We support expanding Medicaid coverage to include SMBP devices for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Coverage should include validated blood pressure monitoring devices and the clinical support services needed to ensure accurate readings and effective treatment.
Support Paid Family Medical Leave for School Employees
Access to paid leave allows individuals to care for their health and their families without jeopardizing their income or job security. We support policies that ensure K–12 school employees have access to paid family and medical leave, providing adequate time to manage serious personal health conditions, care for a loved one facing a health crisis, or bond with a new child following birth, adoption, or foster placement.
Protect and Expand Medicaid to Close Coverage Gaps
Access to affordable, quality care is essential for preventing and managing heart disease and stroke. We advocate for protecting and expanding Medicaid access to close the coverage gaps and improve health outcomes. Mississippi remains one of ten states that has not yet expanded Medicaid – leaving thousands without access to essential care.
School Nutrition
Ensuring Every Student Has Access to Nutritious Meals
Every child deserves access to healthy food at school. We’re advocating for statewide expansion of Healthy School Meals for All (HSMFA) to ensure more Mississippi students receive nutritious meals, regardless of income. Policy options include covering the cost of meals for students who qualify for reduced-price lunch, raising the income threshold for free meals, offering free breakfast or lunch to all students, providing both meals in elementary schools, and fully funding participation for schools eligible under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). These steps help remove barriers to learning and support student health.
Giving Students Enough Time to Eat
Nutritious meals are vital to student health and academic success. We advocate for a “Time to Eat” policy that ensures lunch periods are scheduled for at least 30 minutes total, with a minimum of 20 minutes of seat time. This gives Mississippi students enough time to eat without rushing, helping foster lifelong healthy eating habits and better focus in the classroom.
Community Policy Priorities
Smoke-Free Air for Healthier Communities
Secondhand smoke is a serious health threat – especially to our heart health. We support local efforts to pass comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws that protect residents in workplaces, restaurants, and bars. These policies should also cover aerosolized and heated tobacco products like e-cigarettes, e-cigars, and heat-not-burn devices, ensuring all forms of harmful exposure are addressed.
Complete Streets for Safer Neighborhoods
Streets should be safe and accessible for everyone—whether walking, biking, rolling, or riding transit. We support local Complete Streets policies in Jackson and Vicksburg that prioritize the needs of all road users. These policies help create healthier, more connected communities by making transportation safer and more inclusive.
Join Us in Making a Difference
These priorities reflect our commitment to building healthier communities through science, advocacy, and action. Whether it’s expanding access to care, improving school health, or creating safer public spaces, we’re working every day to ensure that heart health is a priority for all.
Your voice matters. If you’re already part of American Heart Association Heart Powered, watch for upcoming alerts and opportunities to take action on these efforts. Not a member yet? Join at heartpowered.org/join today and help us drive change that saves lives.