JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Another medical group is asking Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to expand Medicaid.
The Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Physicians sent Bryant a letter Friday, saying the state would benefit from additional federal money. The group has 569 members who practice internal medicine or subspecialties. It also has 351 medical students as members.
The Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians already has endorsed Medicaid expansion, as have several hospital administrators.
Republican Bryant remains opposed. His spokesman, Mick Bullock, says the state can't afford for one-third of its residents to enroll in the government insurance program.
Under the 2010 federal health overhaul, states have the option of expanding Medicaid to people making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $15,000. Mississippi's current cutoff is about $5,500.
