Medicaid; expand eligibility to include individuals entitled to benefits under federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

HB 226 would have expanded Mississippi's Medicaid program to include low-income adults who qualify for coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This change would directly affect low-income adults aged 19-64 who previously did not meet Mississippi's existing Medicaid eligibility criteria. The bill aimed to amend two sections of state law to align Mississippi's Medicaid rules with the ACA's expanded eligibility standards and include essential health benefits for these new enrollees. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted into law.