Greenville – Today, healthcare professionals from across the state gathered to show support for Brandon Presley’s Campaign for Governor in Greenville. Mississippi is currently facing a healthcare crisis under Tate Reeves’ leadership, and this coalition, Healthcare Professionals for Presley, is committed to ensuring Mississippi has a governor that will fight to make healthcare affordable so Mississippians can get the healthcare they need and keep Mississippi’s hospitals open. 

These leaders join the Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) in supporting Brandon Presley because they know he will fight for the health and well-being of all Mississippians. 

“When Tate Reeves finally wakes up and realizes another hospital in this state has closed, he will only have himself to blame,” Commissioner Brandon Presley said. “We’re glad to have the support of healthcare workers from counties across the state who are seeing their hospitals struggle to keep the lights on and their patients suffer. As governor, I’ll fight to expand Medicaid so we can keep our hospitals open, provide healthcare to 220,000 working Mississippians, and create thousands of good-paying jobs.”

“Healthcare professionals are looking for a governor who will have their back and Brandon Presley is the leader we need who will fix our healthcare crisis, keep hospitals open and provide affordable healthcare to 220,000 working Mississippians,” said Dr. Fred Kency of Jackson. “For too long, our hospitals have struggled to keep the lights on and many healthcare professionals have felt that Tate Reeves has left us to fend for ourselves. With Brandon Presley as governor, we can have a partner who will treat us with respect and help keep Mississippians healthy.”

Leaders who joined Healthcare Professionals for Presley include, but are not limited to:

• David Dykes, Long Beach

• Shannon Lewis, Madison

• Dr. Martha Morrow, Starkville

• Amber Smith-Bush, Madison

• Jerry Smith, Madison

• Dr. Fred Kency, Jackson

• Carla Smith, Madison

• Dr. Keith Mansel, Jackson

• Dr. John Studdard, Jackson

• Dr. Tammy Taylor-Bufford, Southaven

• Andrea Walker, Oxford

• Dr. John Gaudet, Hattiesburg

• Walter Taylor, Oxford

Earlier this week, Commissioner Brandon Presley unveiled his healthcare plan, which will expand Medicaid, lower prescription drug costs and save rural hospitals.

The plan will:

• Expand Medicaid to provide affordable healthcare to 220,000 Mississippians and keep our hospitals open;

• Create a website where Mississippians can compare health insurance and prescription drug costs so you can make the best healthcare choices for your family;

• Appoint a Director of Medicaid who is a career healthcare professional, not a career political hack, to administer the largest healthcare programs in the state;

• Create a drug pricing affordability board that would require mandatory reporting from pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers about drug pricing mechanisms.

Tate Reeves has taken nearly $500,000 from big drug companies and health insurance companies and has done their bidding by keeping their profits high while Mississippians pay the price with sky-high healthcare costs.

Brandon Presley is a fighter who keeps his promises, stands up for the little guy, and isn't afraid to ruffle more than a few feathers to deliver results for hardworking Mississippi families. Brandon served as Mayor of Nettleton from 2001 to 2007, where he got the town moving again, then balanced the budget every year and cut taxes twice. As Public Service Commissioner, Brandon opened up meetings that had been closed to the public for decades, brought high-speed internet to some of the most remote and forgotten parts of Mississippi, put people back to work with the Hire Mississippi program, and saved taxpayers over 6 billion dollars.

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