Mississippi Edition

The coronavirus pandemic is revealing more about the financial security of Mississippi's rural hospitals. We examine efforts to expand Medicaid in the state.

Then, state lawmakers encourage eligible Mississippians to get vaccinated.

Plus, after a Southern Remedy Health Minute, a Mississippi teen is recognized as a top science scholar.

Segment 1:

Mississippi's rural hospitals were facing challenges before the coronavirus pandemic began last year. Questions regarding their viability surfaced regularly, and some, like North Oak Regional Medical Center in Tate County shut down due to mismanagement. Now, the current pandemic is adding new financial obstacles with limitations on elective surgeries and an influx of un or under-insured patients.

For years a collection of health professionals and state lawmakers have sought to solve this problem by advocating the expansion of Medicaid. Supports say the federal program would inject over a billion dollars into the state's health care system. We talk to Tim Moore of the Mississippi Hospital Association and Sen. Hob Bryan (D).

Segment 2:

Two weeks into the the new legislative session, a Mississippi lawmaker has tested positive for the coronavirus. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann's office says it’s been notified one senator has tested positive for COVID 19. Last summer an outbreak occurred at the Capitol that left over 30 lawmakers, included Hosemann infected with the virus. The notification of the new case came as legislators and their families have been getting vaccinated at the Capitol. Hosemann tells our Ashley Norwood vaccinations are the state's path to normalcy.

Segment 3:

Southern Remedy Health Minute

Segment 4:

A Mississippi Teen is being recognized as a top science scholar by the Society for Science. Michael Lu, a senior at the Mississippi School for Math and Science was named one of 300 scholars in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search - the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Lu shares his journey and interest in bio-medical technology research with our Michael Guidry.