On Feb. 1, Memorial Health System officially took over Merit Health Biloxi, solidifying its position as the dominant healthcare provider in the region. According to Fitch Ratings, Memorial now controls more than 85% of the local health care market.

Mississippi has the highest preterm birth rate in the United States, standing at 15%, compared to the national average of 10.4%.

Medicaid expansion has been a contentious issue across the United States, especially under the Affordable Care Act, and in southern states like Mississippi. While some argue it increases access to health care for low-income individuals, others, including Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and Brown, raise concerns about its long-term economic sustainability, effects on state budgets, and potential impacts on the health care system.

Lamar County resident Kenneth Hornsby doesn’t mince words when discussing the challenges of accessing health care in his town.

“We have a little hospital, like a Band-Aid station. They still send us to another hospital, whether it’s Hattiesburg or New Orleans,” she said.