[{"_1":2,"_116":-5,"_117":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,86,96,106],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6534158,"mediaKeyId","3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3","parentId",3636592,"title","Senators raise CMS compliance concern after $1.9M payment to Methodist included in health bill","audioSeconds",2700,"startMs",0,"endMs",2700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3&start=0&end=2700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6534158/Mississippi/Senators-raise-CMS-compliance-concern-after-19M-payment-to-Methodist-included-in-health-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534158-30c75badf40c17dfbb2fbf218dbbbe0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448348&Signature=DsyEDqpW8NwKsBzN35XvH7bypa-mTnbArp~rZ5SBITIIPNm2PUNRLHNWm6Z8hXoHVnoIcP4BM0Lrq215u-R3lekXtgdgXsdyp2OkjQbWFLB51r1omxdw4LFhmTsLJX0ligUatCCRn-5y6DaovCcIS4DzcCnAsIZJZTf3hwHlqxzZ~1aYXvBZuvlf9qsr-Vqw6X17tCRo4hGb0fz85aOCiJp0ROKxuTGdiUozvm8SROb37537xWKQFaTAz3Fi5xfOK7fbhB-Z4Hv85GVwjK5GgAFpkOymVcLDzugPaEXY2rOsxt0jjTkWM7~8HyXA37jNUYilR1-CCquehEFzoAyl1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mississippi Legislature","date","2025-05-30T19:30:55.037Z","article","Mississippi senators flagged a technical but potentially consequential problem in the Department of Health supplemental appropriation after the House inserted a $1.9 million item intended for Methodist Rehabilitation. Senators said advisers told them that the payment, as written, could violate Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules related to provider‑tax hold‑harmless provisions and risk a broader federal repayment or reduction in Medicaid funding.

Senator Sandy Hill, chairing the health appropriation explanation, told the Senate the $1.96 million item to Methodist was legal in intent but ran afoul of CMS rules on the hospital tax. “If we were to leave this in there, we would be jeopardizing the Medicaid drawdown,” Hill said on the floor, and she explained the committee’s plan: pass the appropriation but rely on the governor’s constitutional authority — specifically, a line‑item veto — to remove or rework the problematic line so the state would not jeopardize federal matching dollars.

Senator Blackwell, who chairs Medicaid matters in the chamber, warned that 42 C.F.R. § 433.68 and related CMS guidance require that provider‑tax arrangements be broad‑based and uniformly imposed; an earmarked reimbursement could trigger a federal review and require the state to repay federal share amounts. After floor discussion, senators decided to pass the overall Department of Health bill and rely on the governor to fix the specific technical conflict rather than holding the entire appropriations package up for another special session.

Senators said they would seek further review in coming months on whether targeted statutory changes are needed to address the underlying fairness concerns Methodist and other specialty hospitals have raised about the existing provider‑tax structure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MS Senate Floor - 29 May, 2025; 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senators said a provision in the Department of Health supplemental appropriation that would have sent about $1.96 million to Methodist Rehabilitation could violate CMS provider‑tax rules and put Mississippi’s Medicaid federal match at risk.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, Mississippi","taxId",29102,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":44,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6534163,"Senate funds pilot to place public defenders in rural counties; critics say process lacked full review",2520,2520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3&start=0&end=2520","/articles/6534163/Mississippi/Senate-funds-pilot-to-place-public-defenders-in-rural-counties-critics-say-process-lacked-full-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534163-52854f7551090ac50f6f6a3effca808f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448348&Signature=X8Y51k6OGXXC71hVAKTf9yzPQtuKXbEX2hjX1gA30JK9mDPNf0HP~Fz5rLXU-9F6~0Kp3FnBk9i7Pl0ngSsUl7ZlZ3wcQmE9PyxDHhJ9BsEAME90AXORioRCpgFYYosZWN9ex7XkXxdfwhDiQ5FhQT56XJ4oIurRajzPVXdOp4ucFDGO882FyhVfJlyjSNcaKBvQaFf3VJDY5xdEemkk8OP9LVqh7lwVByHQCt17QMy~WJTOqVGApYrO6q8xom5FLH~1QAMMew7X-lh96CgkJCG-eKv7E8tc55jQcRw2lWMdrrIV4kYsNn0f07uYH1-sxUT0drkfSSmCrFAh0bTcJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mississippi Senate approved funding for a pilot that the state public defender’s office says will place public defenders and an investigator into rural counties, but several senators said the program was added in the budget process without a standalone bill or full committee debate.

Senator Wiggins, explaining the measure folded into the public-defender budget, said the plan puts a pilot office in the Fifth Circuit and would fund two attorneys and an investigator to provide representation in rural areas: “What we are doing with that is bringing public defenders to rural counties,” he told the chamber. The Senate’s final action for the public-defender unit totaled $5,219,135, which included about $668,000 in one-time funds labeled a pilot program.

Several senators asked for more detail before voting. Senator Silver asked whether the pilot had been the subject of a standalone bill; Wiggins said the office had presented the proposal to budget committees, but it had not been separately passed by the legislature. Senator Sparks and others noted that language the House added late in the process — restricting the funds so they could not replace locally appointed county public defenders — was not discussed with the Senate. Senator Blackman warned that removing that language could “kill” the bill because the House had gone home and that the late addition made it hard to amend now.

Supporters said the pilot seeks to address a shortage of attorneys willing to take public defense work in rural parts of the state and will be evaluated as a time-limited program. Critics said more vetting and clearer statutory language would be appropriate before creating a new statewide model. The bill passed on a roll-call vote and the Senate indicated it will expect performance data if the pilot proceeds.","The Senate approved one-time funding for a public defender pilot program intended to bring defenders to rural parts of the state, drawing sustained questions about program design, scope and whether the House-approved added language was negotiated with the Senate.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":44,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6534168,"Senate approves education supplemental; lawmaker questions early-education and ARP cuts",2180,2180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3&start=0&end=2180","/articles/6534168/Mississippi/Senate-approves-education-supplemental-lawmaker-questions-early-education-and-ARP-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534168-5e8eedd7fd3f46076c76e0c85aa487c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448348&Signature=n1Qd~ueOzGieWbWypYeaJm6xXGpR8uZMoJNWFFVmoO3hCvmcD1SWMZgr1cPa899I22RXWLxatNkYyDCuAKJ8BplP4~sNDV3HPqb54Y5oJVpex64PjGWBfMOtEDuAV-z4qw5ahA7J9z1RWVSWGst495sTVgySMER2fCNA2RwPqMMMEH4hFMT5gvOHD5GR4qPyQYTO-ZdgqN2~lX58jCjdiwZZ6OPrVUtFapFrCP5i-vaDRy4t1fxDHXHlF~DDAO~b7A6f1Dg3vNGHbTABpgky~Zy2SKbMkftrJ0AoHfaENx5~NNOYa6dERnM7liS7O-PCPsjd5~A8MyhatvfN-J4dvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mississippi Senate on the final day of a special session approved the supplementary education appropriation carried in House Bill 42, clearing a final Senate action for the department’s general education programs and related line items.

Senator Dennis DeBarre, chair of the appropriations discussion, told the chamber the Senate action for the general education budget is $2,114,281,503 and highlighted increases the Senate added, including $3.5 million for a teacher residency program, $2.1 million for a distance-learning partnership with MPB to place 12 rotating teachers to address critical-subject shortages, and a $2 million increase to the ESA program. “Everything that I feel good about the education budget,” DeBarre said as he outlined the supplements.

Senators who asked questions pressed for detail on specific line items. Senator Hill asked about a $1.1 million appropriation for “Algebra Nation,” which DeBarre described as an in‑person tutoring-style program that sends instructors to districts to improve math scores. Senator McClendon asked whether school-choice initiatives such as the Promise Act were reflected in the appropriation; the chair said they were not. Senator Simmons raised the larger issue of federal ARP ESSER funding being liquidated early and asked whether this bill contained money to make local districts whole. DeBarre said the department’s current estimate of the hit had changed and the committee had tried to press for assistance but could not secure agreement with the House.

The bill passed on a recorded morning roll call after the chamber completed questions and consideration.

Senators and staff said they would follow up with the Department of Education on several program clarifications, including the scope of the MPB distance‑learning pilot, the amount available for national board certification stipends and whether the ESA increase will eliminate current waiting lists.

The Senate sent the measure to the governor following final passage; senators indicated they expect additional questions and possible technical cleanup in the coming weeks.","The Mississippi Senate passed a supplemental appropriation for K–12 education after brief debate about program line items, teacher residency funding and a federal ARP ESSER liquidation that had hit local districts, while senators asked for follow-up on specific grants and programs.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":44,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":103,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":104,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":105,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6534149,"Votes at a glance: Key supplemental appropriations and technical bills approved in Senate special session",10800,10800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3&start=0&end=10800","/articles/6534149/Mississippi/Votes-at-a-glance-Key-supplemental-appropriations-and-technical-bills-approved-in-Senate-special-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534149-46b0b9c4cd5e6e19c9601021ff3571ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448348&Signature=Fhh1ZZFXiBNCplv1~t0g2y8MarIC6EYYhcTV1ED7zFs~P-SYeEVtunzqkoKytDJPNE27UcPym1yctlOCU8o4zYiLiaYVwtb1EkxHtO-~hgCwA6NN4tdl49GWqQ~jyU1LL~GkgLlda5kKfHs7iUvIM4UlEph0h~Rm6eTzbpdGNBkuTfUQISDbms2E56C22h8w9rTydsa77gmmKUyGjeFn07KIO-Aey1btzCe1uZqMhmYq~jYTBtbMrS~wRsVDFByHidTN7zuexdr-e-YAZQCdJZ77c-7Wex5u7QrCANvo55L6B-D22E2Pr7zg9VGb5Hon-BTnFhq44T8n2CnzU9teRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mississippi Senate completed votes on a wide slate of supplemental appropriations and technical corrections during the special session. Below are selected votes and outcomes taken on the floor; all measures were considered and passed by recorded roll call except where noted.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 42 (Department of Education supplemental appropriation): Passed (Senate action: $2,114,281,503). Senate added recurring and one‑time program increases; bill transmitted to governor.

- Appropriation for Mississippi Public Broadcasting / ETV (MPB): Passed (Senate action noted $15,191,000). Included tower maintenance and one-time funding for operations as explained on the floor.

- House Bill 24 / Library Commission appropriations: Passed (Senate action: $16,023,703). Restored certain grant draws and funded health insurance increases for state libraries.

- Attorney General appropriation: Passed (Senate action reported $46,396,192). The budget added funds for children’s advocacy centers, human‑trafficking authority changes and vacancy funding.

- Public Defender appropriations (pilot included): Passed (Senate action: $5,219,135; pilot one‑time funds $668,000). Senate debate flagged a House‑added limitation and sought program details.

- Department of Health supplemental (House Bill 13): Passed (Senate action reported $597,145,247). Senators identified a problematic $1.96M earmark to Methodist Rehabilitation; the governor was expected to correct the line item to avoid CMS issues.

- Child Protective Services supplemental: Passed (Senate action recorded; senators noted a deficit request of roughly $27,000,000 for out‑of‑state placements and other high costs).

- Department of Human Services, Medicaid and other agency appropriations: Passed by roll call (multiple items on the supplemental calendar; Senate used recorded roll calls for final passage).

Procedural notes

- Several amendments offered on the floor were ruled non‑germane under joint rules (including a proposal to transfer $138 million from the rainy‑day fund to offset ESSER liquidation impacts). Where technical or legal conflicts were identified (for example, the DOH/Methodist line), senators passed the overall bill then relied on the governor’s line‑item authority or on later statutory fixes.

What happens next

- Passed bills were enrolled and sent to the governor for signature or line‑item veto. Senators asked departments to return with technical clarifications, cost breakdowns and reporting requirements for pilots or new programs (notably the MPB distance‑learning program and the public‑defender pilot).","The Mississippi Senate passed a package of supplemental appropriations and technical corrections during the special session. This roundup lists major measures the chamber approved on roll-call votes and notes items flagged for governor review or further follow-up.",{"_33":107,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":108,"_41":109,"_43":44,"_45":110,"_47":111,"_49":50,"_51":112,"_53":113,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":114,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":115,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6534153,"Senator Simmons proposes rainy‑day transfer to offset sudden ESSER liquidation for districts",2880,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3636592-40752ca3e8c20380a30f5374a7c3dca3&start=0&end=2880","/articles/6534153/Mississippi/Senator-Simmons-proposes-rainyday-transfer-to-offset-sudden-ESSER-liquidation-for-districts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534153-a78559f2efab6396a6711dadfc99c529/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448348&Signature=HFLLE3HIcqe~JifvJJCCgDhWqCLKYJcl8X66mpgGLDR5ls29QTwdGiGJsuYEwubKi9epoGTxJvQhWU8mj-0UQpIoJw2Utz6od5hJYrEE33ijiyAf6Ive4j-HNZtoFYXNOgEfwqyAxNzLliyJxvnKq0XDZnawhUdkZXGxnTgx7BHRCQJJG08lW2A5SKYuqsPRnYspzNQi16WtCVhPfElH0BLT1QSaYNveB-TMaXWPHEyaH7e9UWg2Wzv1b~bt9HR2HD5t7ayVZNyanpMUKQ~i7n1nKi7ywy1dr0xfxTaYUl2jTgtrhKGUoIcycmkN1zQQT4g6CfyGPiI1VXzSPvWcvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Derek Simmons proposed a floor amendment seeking $138 million from the state’s working cash stabilization reserve to offset a federal decision that accelerated liquidation of ARP ESSER funds and cut local school districts’ federal aid.

Simmons said the federal agency’s March decision unexpectedly required districts to liquidate ESSER grants immediately, a move he estimated would reduce Department of Education resources by about $138 million and asked the Senate to temporarily use rainy‑day funds to “make our local school districts whole.” He circulated a list of affected districts so senators could see local impacts.

Senator Wiggins raised a point of order citing joint‑rule limits on transferring appropriation authority; the chair agreed the amendment was not germane to an appropriation bill under joint rules and out of order. The Senate then proceeded with final passage of the education appropriation after debate. Simmons said he would continue to work with the department and the affected districts on remedies and noted the department and some districts were appealing the federal decision.

Simmons’ proposal did not become law; senators described options including continued negotiation with federal officials, appeals by the department, or seeking relief in a future legislative session.","Senator Derek Simmons offered an amendment to pull $138 million from the state's working cash stabilization (rainy‑day) fund to make school districts whole after a federal decision to accelerate ESSER fund liquidation; the amendment was ruled non‑germane under chamber rules and did not pass.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senators raise CMS compliance concern after $1.9M payment to Methodist included in health bill

Senate funds pilot to place public defenders in rural counties; critics say process lacked full review

Senate approves education supplemental; lawmaker questions early-education and ARP cuts

Votes at a glance: Key supplemental appropriations and technical bills approved in Senate special session

Senator Simmons proposes rainy‑day transfer to offset sudden ESSER liquidation for districts