Dear Rep. McGee, Rep. Creekmore, Rep. Hood, Sen. Blackwell, Sen. Boyd, and Sen. Wiggins:
On behalf of those living with cystic fibrosis in Mississippi, we support efforts by the state to increase access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage and applaud the state for its efforts to expand eligibility for the Medicaid program. We urge you to pass a version of HB 1725 that fully expands Medicaid eligibility for adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic disease that affects nearly 40,000 children and adults in the United States, including more than 250 in Mississippi. CF causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and digestive system, which can lead to life-threatening infections. Cystic fibrosis is both serious and progressive; lung damage caused by infection is irreversible and can have a lasting impact on length and quality of life. As a complex, multi-system condition, CF requires targeted, specialized treatment and medications.
While significant advances in care are helping people with cystic fibrosis live longer, healthier lives, the cost of care presents a barrier to access for many people with the disease. Many people with CF depend on multiple forms of insurance, and nearly three-quarters rely on some form of financial assistance. Still, nearly half of respondents to a George Washington University survey of more than 1,800 people living with CF and their families reported delaying or forgoing care due to cost concerns, which can have serious implications for their health.
Mississippi Medicaid
Medicaid plays an important role in helping patients afford the specialized care they need to stay healthy. For people with CF, adequate coverage is not a luxury but a necessity — ensuring access to critical, life-sustaining care and treatments. As previously mentioned, many people with CF delay or forgo care — including skipping medication doses, taking less medicine than prescribed, delaying filling a prescription, or skipping a treatment altogether — due to cost concerns. Because CF is a progressive disease, patients who delay or forgo treatment face an increased risk of lung exacerbations, irreversible lung damage, and costly hospitalizations. Fully expanding Medicaid will help ensure adequate coverage for more people in Mississippi and help people with CF afford the care they need.
Expanding Medicaid eligibility to childless adults with incomes up to 138 percent of FPL will ultimately allow the state to extend coverage to an estimated 123,000 adults. In doing so, the state could also draw down much-needed federal dollars and strengthen a vital safety net for Mississippi’s most vulnerable residents, including those with cystic fibrosis. For many people with CF who rely on multiple forms of insurance to afford their care, Medicaid expansion can help ensure they are stay healthy enough to stay in the workforce.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation appreciates your attention to this important issue and requests that you pass a version of HB 1725 that fully expands Medicaid. As the health care landscape continues to evolve, we look forward to working with the state of Mississippi to improve the lives of all people with cystic fibrosis.