he People of Mississippi want to be healthier, and they want healthier children and families. Building on his work as Ag Commissioner, Gipson will deploy an all-of-state government approach to making Mississippi healthier. Through an emphasis on eating fresh, nutritious and local food, coupled with regular activity and exercise, Mississippians can reap the benefits of better health and better health outcomes. In particular, Gipson will maximize use of President Trump’s Rural Health Transformation Program to better serve Mississippi’s people, hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers. This Plan will:

a.    Connect all Mississippi schools with local food hubs for direct, year-round access to purchase local fresh farm-raised foods for Mississippi students; the same for Mississippi prisons;

b.    Direct the Mississippi Department of Health to emphasize and promote the natural benefits of exercise and a healthy diet and eating local produce, meat and other healthy foods;

c.    Eliminate sugary and other unhealthy snacks from all SNAP benefits and require reasonable work requirements for welfare beneficiaries;

d.    Aggressively deploy and utilize the Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Funds to achieve these goals, as well as better access to healthcare throughout the Mississippi;

e.    Adopt comprehensive Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform to help lower Mississippians’ pharmaceutical costs.

f.     Implement a private sector Mississippi Comprehensive Health Insurance Risk Pool to provide health insurance benefits for Mississippians with pre-existing conditions and those who cannot otherwise obtain basic health insurance;

g.    Enhance access to Mental Health resources and services throughout Mississippi;

h.    Work with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and local volunteers to develop a year-round voluntary program of outdoor activities at our State Parks and other public lands for wholesome outdoor recreation and activity among local children and youth; promote hunting and fishing among our young people through an official “Take-A-Kid Outdoors” Hunting, Fishing and Outdoors Initiative.

i.     End Child Hunger in Mississippi. Work with private Mississippi nonprofit organizations, churches, faith-based organizations and local food banks to develop and execute a charitable, private nonprofit strategic plan to make sure no child ever has to go hungry in Mississippi.