Medicaid; seek federal waiver to provide for presumptive eligibility for children who need mental health or substance use services.

SB 2681 would allow Mississippi to seek a federal Medicaid waiver enabling immediate access to mental health or substance use services for children under 18 who are otherwise eligible for Medicaid but await formal approval. During a temporary "presumptive eligibility period" (up to one month), qualified providers like clinics could verify preliminary eligibility and provide limited services while requiring families to submit a full Medicaid application within 30 days. The bill specifies that benefits during this period would be restricted solely to mental health or substance use treatment, not full Medicaid coverage. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.