Mississippi Representative Jeffrey Guice made headlines a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was the sort of publicity most politicians would pay to avoid. As The Inquisitr explained, Nicole Nichols, whose eight-year old daughter Bella has Type 1 diabetes, contacted state legislators to try to get her daughter the help she needs. Rep. Guice (R-Ocean Springs) publicly and tactlessly suggested that Mrs. Nichols pay for Bella’s medical “supplies with money that you earn.”
I am sorry about your problem. Have you thought about buying the supplies with the money that you earn?
Rep. Guice apparently does not understand the power of social media. (Although he signed up with Twitter in 2009, he has sent only seven tweets.) His heartless comment went viral; it was picked up and criticized across the nation. Guice’s name is famous from coast to coast. Few state legislators can achieve that kind of name recognition. Unfortunately for Guice, he has been publicly ridiculed and insulted for his heartless comment.
Rep. Guice was unaware of the costs of insulin and other medical supplies, and did not bother to research the matter before responding to Nicole Nichols, whose daughter and husband both have diabetes. Guice is a member of the Mississippi House Public Health and Human Services committee, so it ought not have been overly difficult for him to acquire that data. Mrs. Nichols pointed out that the cost of her daughter’s medical supplies are higher than her monthly mortgage payment.
Many parents, myself included, have found that while supplies are deemed necessary and technically covered by insurance, we cannot get Medicaid and/or CHIPS (Children’s Health Insurance Program) to pay for them, and suppliers aren’t able to help us.
Here's the letter a mom sent re: child with #type1diabetes and response from #JeffGuice their Rep in Mississippi ???? http://pic.twitter.com/izxaNzZLRT
— Destiny (@Bee4Destiny) June 29, 2016
Mrs. Nichols complained to Mississippi Today that Rep. Guice was out of touch with the needs of his constituents.
This shows how incredibly out of touch he is with what the majority of Mississippians are going through. We have the highest rate of diabetes in the nation.
After his name had been dragged through the mud across the nation and total strangers had questioned his intelligence, his character, and his competence as a state legislator, Guice issued an apology to Mrs. Nichols on Tuesday, June 28, through House Information Officer Meg Annison.
I realize my remarks to Mrs. Nichols were completely insensitive and out of line. I am sorry and deeply regret my reply. I know nothing about her and her family and replied in a knee-jerk fashion. I’d like to think the people of Mississippi and my constituents know that I’m willing to help where I am able.
According to Mississippi Today, Rep. Guice apologized on Tuesday and met with Mrs. Nichols on Wednesday. Mrs. Nichols declined to rate their conversation as positive or negative, but when asked whether Rep. Guice had offered solutions to her problems with Medicaid and CHIPS, she said, “not at all.”
Rep. Jarvis Dortch approached mom Nicole Nichols asking for details about her daughter & the struggle to get insulin http://pic.twitter.com/lx9aJ6cdMy
— Sarah Fowler (@FowlerSarah) June 28, 2016
As a result of the meeting at the state capitol, the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi has challenged state legislators to donate $10 each, said WJTV Channel 12. The public is also welcome to donate.
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