Protecting Mississippi Families Means Strengthening Medicaid

By: Mayor Desiree Norwood, mayor of Sunflower, Mississippi, and program director for Plan A Health

In the Mississippi Delta, we pride ourselves on resilience, faith, and community. We show up for one another — at church, at school, at community events, and in times of crisis. But even the strongest communities cannot overcome certain challenges alone. One of the greatest challenges we face today is ensuring that every Mississippian has access to basic, life-saving healthcare. That is why protecting and strengthening Medicaid is not only good policy, it is a moral imperative for our state.

As Mayor of Sunflower and Program Director for Plan A Health, I see every day what happens when people cannot get the care they need. Plan A’s mobile clinics travel throughout underserved communities to provide health services to people regardless of income, insurance status, or zip code. We meet people where they are, because healthcare should never depend on whether you can afford to take time off work, find childcare, or travel long distances. Yet even with these efforts, far too many Mississippians still fall through the cracks.

Mississippi faces a maternal and infant health crisis that demands urgent attention. Medicaid covers nearly six in ten births in our state, underscoring how essential the program is for mothers and babies. When women have access to prenatal and postnatal care, we see healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and stronger families. When they don’t, the consequences can be devastating.

Sunflower County’s infant mortality rate — 13 deaths per 1,000 live births — is more than double the national rate of six. Mississippi as a whole faces an infant mortality rate of 9 in 1,000 births, already one of the highest rates in the country. These numbers represent real families grieving unimaginable loss. No parent should have to wonder whether their child might have survived if only they could have seen a doctor sooner.

The story is equally alarming for mothers. According to KFF, Mississippi recorded a maternal mortality rate of 39.1 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2018 and 2022. Seventy Mississippi mothers lost their lives during childbirth or soon after. These are women who should still be with their families — raising children, working in their communities, and contributing their talents to our state. These deaths are not inevitable. They are preventable when consistent, affordable healthcare is accessible.

But for too many Mississippians, access remains out of reach because of the state’s coverage gap. The “coverage gap” refers to hardworking people who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance. They may be your neighbors working in childcare, retail, food service, agriculture, or home health — people who keep our economy moving yet are left uninsured simply because of where they fall on a chart.

Here in Sunflower County, closing the coverage gap would make an extraordinary difference. According to Care4Mississippi, expanding Medicaid eligibility would give 1,294 of our residents access to health coverage. It would create 92 new local jobs every year. And it would generate nearly half a million dollars in new tax revenue while reducing uncompensated care costs by more than $1.4 million. This isn’t just a health policy, it’s an economic development strategy.

As someone who has worked at the Mississippi Department of Health, served on the board of Mississippi Delta Community College, and served on the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors, I have seen the barriers families face from every angle. I also see the incredible strength and determination within this community. I will continue to advocate for connecting residents to available and expanded resources, because our citizens deserve the chance to thrive, not just survive.

Every Mississippian deserves the dignity of basic healthcare. Every mother deserves the chance to bring her baby into the world safely. Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy. Medicaid saves lives, strengthens families, and supports the rural hospitals that many communities depend on.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s a people issue. It’s about doing right by our neighbors, protecting our workforce, and honoring our shared values of compassion and community. Mississippi has a proud tradition of caring for one another. Expanding Medicaid and closing the coverage gap continues that tradition. Together, we can build a healthier, stronger, and more hopeful future for Sunflower County and for our entire state.

For more information and ways to take action, visit heartpowered.org/campaigns/bettermississippi.