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Mississippi Senate committee has passed a narrower version of a bill that would require an electronic records system for Medicaid and regular audit of Medicaid recipients. House Bill 1116 would contract an outside company to build a computerized record of Medicaid recipients' information. The Senate version would have Medicaid officials then verify recipients' financial information and residency to determine if they're still eligible for aid. Any recipient found to have moved out of state would stop getting aid within three months. (Benchaabane, 3/24)

A day after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about a religious exemption to a requirement that employer-sponsored health plans provide coverage for contraceptives, the Vermont House defeated a narrower exemption on Thursday. (Gram, 3/25)

Hundreds of Iowans gathered on the Capitol steps Tuesday to tell state lawmakers that it's time to approve a comprehensive, safe medical cannabis program. The crowd of nearly 200 at the Rally for Compassionate Cannabis included patients, caregivers, legislators and local government officials. They stood with signs that read "Stop the Suffering" while speakers shared sometimes emotional stories about their experiences with medical cannabis. (Norvelli, 3/24)