JACKSON, Miss.–Healthcare in the Delta has been a recurring theme in this year’s legislative session. Wednesday the head of the Mississippi State Dept. of Health, Dr. Dan Edney gave a presentation on how the health department is trying to help people in areas where access to care is limited.
“Issaquena county is the smallest population county in the state. It has no physicians, It has no clinics. It has a dialysis unit, which I wish we didn’t have to have one,” he said.
Sharkey and Issaquena counties share a health department. But, Edney pointed out that geography is the most significant factor in health outcomes. Those outcomes are poorest in the Delta, because there are fewer doctors and fewer medical clinics and hospitals. In the case of Issaquena County, that, along with poor education about medical issues, has led to high rates of diseases that put many Mississippians at risk.
“The only healthcare facility in Issaquena County is a dialysis unit, which I think is ironic. It’s because of the health disparity of untreated hypertension and diabetes.”
Edney said the state is trying to help people who are uninsured get insurance. Some are being signed up for Medicaid and Medicaid waivers. Others are being signed up in the Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
But, Edney pointed out that some of those policies are poor, and have extremely high deductibles, even though premiums are low.
To help people who remain uninsured or underinsured, several organizations are operating free clinics. County health departments are also able to help people to some degree.
