MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Bean

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-7-173, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OR MAJOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES BY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WHICH REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE OF NEED REVIEW; TO AMEND SECTION 41-7-191, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY SENATE BILL NO. 2486, 1999 REGULAR SESSION, AND SECTION 41-7-207, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT THE RELOCATION OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, SERVICES AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF A CERTIFICATE OF NEED REVIEW; TO AMEND SECTION 41-7-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THOSE PERSONS WITH STANDING TO REQUEST A "STAY OF PROCEEDINGS" OF ANY FINAL ORDER OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORDER; TO PROVIDE THAT NO CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATION THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ORDER SHALL BE UNDERTAKEN, AND NO LICENSE TO OPERATE ANY FACILITY THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ORDER SHALL BE ISSUED, UNTIL ALL STATUTORY APPEALS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED OR THE TIME FOR SUCH APPEALS HAS EXPIRED; TO PROVIDE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE FILING OF SUCH APPEAL SHALL NOT PREVENT THE PURCHASE OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT OR THE PROVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY A CERTIFICATE OF NEED ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 41-7-205, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE THOSE NONSUBSTANTIVE PROJECTS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM FORMAL CERTIFICATE OF NEED REVIEW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-7-173, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-7-173. For the purposes of Section 41-7-171 et seq., the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Affected person" means (i) the applicant; (ii) a person residing within the geographic area to be served by the applicant's proposal; (iii) a person who regularly uses health care facilities or HMO's located in the geographic area of the proposal which provide similar service to that which is proposed; (iv) health care facilities and HMO's which have, prior to receipt of the application under review, formally indicated an intention to provide service similar to that of the proposal being considered at a future date; (v) third-party payers who reimburse health care facilities located in the geographical area of the proposal; or (vi) any agency that establishes rates for health care services or HMO's located in the geographic area of the proposal.

(b) "Certificate of need" means a written order of the State Department of Health setting forth the affirmative finding that a proposal in prescribed application form, sufficiently satisfies the plans, standards and criteria prescribed for such service or other project by Section 41-7-171 et seq., and by rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the State Department of Health.

(c) (i) "Capital expenditure" when pertaining to defined major medical equipment, shall mean an expenditure which, under generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, is not properly chargeable as an expense of operation and maintenance and which exceeds One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00).

(ii) "Capital expenditure," when pertaining to other than major medical equipment, shall mean any expenditure which under generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied is not properly chargeable as an expense of operation and maintenance and which exceeds Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00).

(iii) A "capital expenditure" shall include the acquisition, whether by lease, sufferance, gift, devise, legacy, settlement of a trust or other means, of any facility or part thereof, or equipment for a facility, the expenditure for which would have been considered a capital expenditure if acquired by purchase. Transactions which are separated in time but are planned to be undertaken within twelve (12) months of each other and are components of an overall plan for meeting patient care objectives shall, for purposes of this definition, be viewed in their entirety without regard to their timing.

(iv) In those instances where a health care facility or other provider of health services proposes to provide a service in which the capital expenditure for major medical equipment or other than major medical equipment or a combination of the two (2) may have been split between separate parties, the total capital expenditure required to provide the proposed service shall be considered in determining the necessity of certificate of need review and in determining the appropriate certificate of need review fee to be paid. The capital expenditure associated with facilities and equipment to provide services in Mississippi shall be considered regardless of where the capital expenditure was made, in state or out of state, and regardless of the domicile of the party making the capital expenditure, in state or out of state.

(d) "Change of ownership" includes, but is not limited to, inter vivos gifts, purchases, transfers, lease arrangements, cash and/or stock transactions or other comparable arrangements whenever any person or entity acquires or controls a majority interest of the facility or service. Changes of ownership from partnerships, single proprietorships or corporations to another form of ownership are specifically included. * * * However, "change of ownership" shall not include any inherited interest acquired as a result of a testamentary instrument or under the laws of descent and distribution of the State of Mississippi.

(e) "Commencement of construction" means that all of the following have been completed with respect to a proposal or project proposing construction, renovating, remodeling or alteration:

(i) A legally binding written contract has been consummated by the proponent and a lawfully licensed contractor to construct and/or complete the intent of the proposal within a specified period of time in accordance with final architectural plans which have been approved by the licensing authority of the State Department of Health;

(ii) Any and all permits and/or approvals deemed lawfully necessary by all authorities with responsibility for such have been secured; and

(iii) Actual bona fide undertaking of the subject proposal has commenced, and a progress payment of at least one percent (1%) of the total cost price of the contract has been paid to the contractor by the proponent, and the requirements of this paragraph (e) have been certified to in writing by the State Department of Health.

Force account expenditures, such as deposits, securities, bonds, et cetera, may, in the discretion of the State Department of Health, be excluded from any or all of the provisions of defined commencement of construction.

(f) "Consumer" means an individual who is not a provider of health care as defined in paragraph (q) of this section.

(g) "Develop," when used in connection with health services, means to undertake those activities which, on their completion, will result in the offering of a new institutional health service or the incurring of a financial obligation as defined under applicable state law in relation to the offering of such services.

(h) "Health care facility" includes hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, chemical dependency hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, end stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, including freestanding hemodialysis units, intermediate care facilities, ambulatory surgical facilities, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, home health agencies, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, pediatric skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, comprehensive medical rehabilitation facilities, including facilities owned or operated by the state or a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state, but does not include Christian Science sanatoriums operated or listed and certified by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts. This definition shall not apply to facilities for the private practice, either independently or by incorporated medical groups, of physicians, dentists or health care professionals except where such facilities are an integral part of an institutional health service. The various health care facilities listed in this paragraph shall be defined as follows:

(i) "Hospital" means an institution which is primarily engaged in providing to inpatients, by or under the supervision of physicians, diagnostic services and therapeutic services for medical diagnosis, treatment and care of injured, disabled or sick persons, or rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled or sick persons. Such term does not include psychiatric hospitals.

(ii) "Psychiatric hospital" means an institution which is primarily engaged in providing to inpatients, by or under the supervision of a physician, psychiatric services for the diagnosis and treatment of mentally ill persons.

(iii) "Chemical dependency hospital" means an institution which is primarily engaged in providing to inpatients, by or under the supervision of a physician, medical and related services for the diagnosis and treatment of chemical dependency such as alcohol and drug abuse.

(iv) "Skilled nursing facility" means an institution or a distinct part of an institution which is primarily engaged in providing to inpatients skilled nursing care and related services for patients who require medical or nursing care or rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled or sick persons.

(v) "End stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities" means kidney disease treatment centers, which includes freestanding hemodialysis units and limited care facilities. The term "limited care facility" generally refers to an off-hospital-premises facility, regardless of whether it is provider or nonprovider operated, which is engaged primarily in furnishing maintenance hemodialysis services to stabilized patients.

(vi) "Intermediate care facility" means an institution which provides, on a regular basis, health related care and services to individuals who do not require the degree of care and treatment which a hospital or skilled nursing facility is designed to provide, but who, because of their mental or physical condition, require health related care and services (above the level of room and board).

(vii) "Ambulatory surgical facility" means a facility primarily organized or established for the purpose of performing surgery for outpatients and is a separate identifiable legal entity from any other health care facility. Such term does not include the offices of private physicians or dentists, whether for individual or group practice, and does not include any abortion facility as defined in Section 41-75-1(e).

(viii) "Intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded" means an intermediate care facility that provides health or rehabilitative services in a planned program of activities to the mentally retarded, also including, but not limited to, cerebral palsy and other conditions covered by the Federal Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, Public Law 94-103.

(ix) "Home health agency" means a public or privately owned agency or organization, or a subdivision of such an agency or organization, properly authorized to conduct business in Mississippi, which is primarily engaged in providing to individuals at the written direction of a licensed physician, in the individual's place of residence, skilled nursing services provided by or under the supervision of a registered nurse licensed to practice in Mississippi, and one or more of the following services or items:

1. Physical, occupational or speech therapy;

2. Medical social services;

3. Part-time or intermittent services of a home health aide;

4. Other services as approved by the licensing agency for home health agencies;

5. Medical supplies, other than drugs and biologicals, and the use of medical appliances; or

6. Medical services provided by an intern or resident-in-training at a hospital under a teaching program of such hospital.

Further, all skilled nursing services and those services listed in items 1. through 4. of this subparagraph (ix) must be provided directly by the licensed home health agency. For purposes of this subparagraph, "directly" means either through an agency employee or by an arrangement with another individual not defined as a health care facility.

This subparagraph (ix) shall not apply to health care facilities which had contracts for the above services with a home health agency on January 1, 1990.

(x) "Psychiatric residential treatment facility" means any nonhospital establishment with permanent licensed facilities which provides a twenty-four-hour program of care by qualified therapists including, but not limited to, duly licensed mental health professionals, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and licensed certified social workers, for emotionally disturbed children and adolescents referred to such facility by a court, local school district or by the Department of Human Services, who are not in an acute phase of illness requiring the services of a psychiatric hospital, and are in need of such restorative treatment services. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "emotionally disturbed" means a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree, which adversely affects educational performance:

1. An inability to learn which cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory or health factors;

2. An inability to build or maintain satisfactory relationships with peers and teachers;

3. Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances;

4. A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; or

5. A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. An establishment furnishing primarily domiciliary care is not within this definition.

(xi) "Pediatric skilled nursing facility" means an institution or a distinct part of an institution that is primarily engaged in providing to inpatients skilled nursing care and related services for persons under twenty-one (21) years of age who require medical or nursing care or rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled or sick persons.

(xii) "Long-term care hospital" means a freestanding, Medicare-certified hospital that has an average length of inpatient stay greater than twenty-five (25) days, which is primarily engaged in providing chronic or long-term medical care to patients who do not require more than three (3) hours of rehabilitation or comprehensive rehabilitation per day, and has a transfer agreement with an acute care medical center and a comprehensive medical rehabilitation facility. Long-term care hospitals shall not use rehabilitation, comprehensive medical rehabilitation, medical rehabilitation, sub-acute rehabilitation, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or sub-acute care facility in association with its name.

(xiii) "Comprehensive medical rehabilitation facility" means a hospital or hospital unit that is licensed and/or certified as a comprehensive medical rehabilitation facility which provides specialized programs that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and supervised by a physician board certified or board eligible in Physiatry or other doctor of medicine or osteopathy with at least two (2) years of training in the medical direction of a comprehensive rehabilitation program that:

1. Includes evaluation and treatment of individuals with physical disabilities;

2. Emphasizes education and training of individuals with disabilities;

3. Incorporates at least the following core disciplines:

(i) Physical Therapy;

(ii) Occupational Therapy;

(iii) Speech and Language Therapy;

(iv) Rehabilitation Nursing; and

4. Incorporates at least three (3) of the following disciplines:

(i) Psychology;

(ii) Audiology;

(iii) Respiratory Therapy;

(iv) Therapeutic Recreation;

(v) Orthotics;

(vi) Prosthetics;

(vii) Special Education;

(viii) Vocational Rehabilitation;

(ix) Psychotherapy;

(x) Social Work;

(xi) Rehabilitation Engineering.

These specialized programs include, but are not limited to: spinal cord injury programs, head injury programs and infant and early childhood development programs.

(i) "Health maintenance organization" or "HMO" means a public or private organization organized under the laws of this state or the federal government which:

(i) Provides or otherwise makes available to enrolled participants health care services, including substantially the following basic health care services: usual physician services, hospitalization, laboratory, x-ray, emergency and preventive services, and out-of-area coverage;

(ii) Is compensated (except for copayments) for the provision of the basic health care services listed in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph to enrolled participants on a predetermined basis; and

(iii) Provides physician services primarily:

1. Directly through physicians who are either employees or partners of such organization; or

2. Through arrangements with individual physicians or one or more groups of physicians (organized on a group practice or individual practice basis).

(j) "Health service area" means a geographic area of the state designated in the State Health Plan as the area to be used in planning for specified health facilities and services and to be used when considering certificate of need applications to provide health facilities and services.

(k) "Health services" means clinically related (i.e., diagnostic, treatment or rehabilitative) services and includes alcohol, drug abuse, mental health and home health care services.

(l) "Institutional health services" shall mean health services provided in or through health care facilities and shall include the entities in or through which such services are provided.

(m) "Major medical equipment" means medical equipment designed for providing medical or any health related service which costs in excess of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00). However, this definition shall not be applicable to clinical laboratories if they are determined by the State Department of Health to be independent of any physician's office, hospital or other health care facility or otherwise not so defined by federal or state law, or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(n) "State Department of Health" shall mean the state agency created under Section 41-3-15, which shall be considered to be the State Health Planning and Development Agency, as defined in paragraph (t) of this section.

(o) "Offer," when used in connection with health services, means that it has been determined by the State Department of Health that the health care facility is capable of providing specified health services.

(p) "Person" means an individual, a trust or estate, partnership, corporation (including associations, joint stock companies and insurance companies), the state or a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state.

(q) "Provider" shall mean any person who is a provider or representative of a provider of health care services requiring a certificate of need under Section 41-7-171 et seq., or who has any financial or indirect interest in any provider of services.

(r) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services to whom the authority involved has been delegated.

(s) "State Health Plan" means the sole and official statewide health plan for Mississippi which identifies priority state health needs and establishes standards and criteria for health-related activities which require certificate of need review in compliance with Section 41-7-191.

(t) "State Health Planning and Development Agency" means the agency of state government designated to perform health planning and resource development programs for the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 2. Section 41-7-191, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended by Senate Bill No. 2486, 1999 Regular Session, is amended as follows:

41-7-191. (1) No person shall engage in any of the following activities without obtaining the required certificate of need:

(a) The construction, development or other establishment of a new health care facility;

(b) The relocation of a health care facility or portion thereof, or major medical equipment, unless such relocation of a health care facility or portion thereof, or major medical equipment, which does not involve a capital expenditure by or on behalf of a health care facility, is within one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet from the main entrance of the health care facility;

(c) A change over a period of two (2) years' time, as established by the State Department of Health, in existing bed complement through the addition of more than ten (10) beds or more than ten percent (10%) of the total bed capacity of a designated licensed category or subcategory of any health care facility, whichever is less, from one physical facility or site to another; the conversion over a period of two (2) years' time, as established by the State Department of Health, of existing bed complement of more than ten (10) beds or more than ten percent (10%) of the total bed capacity of a designated licensed category or subcategory of any such health care facility, whichever is less; or the alteration, modernizing or refurbishing of any unit or department wherein such beds may be located; provided, however, that from and after July 1, 1994, no health care facility shall be authorized to add any beds or convert any beds to another category of beds without a certificate of need under the authority of subsection (1)(c) of this section unless there is a projected need for such beds in the planning district in which the facility is located, as reported in the most current State Health Plan;

(d) Offering of the following health services if those services have not been provided on a regular basis by the proposed provider of such services within the period of twelve (12) months prior to the time such services would be offered:

(i) Open heart surgery services;

(ii) Cardiac catheterization services;

(iii) Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation services;

(iv) Licensed psychiatric services;

(v) Licensed chemical dependency services;

(vi) Radiation therapy services;

(vii) Diagnostic imaging services of an invasive nature, i.e. invasive digital angiography;

(viii) Nursing home care as defined in subparagraphs (iv), (vi) and (viii) of Section 41-7-173(h);

(ix) Home health services;

(x) Swing-bed services;

(xi) Ambulatory surgical services;

(xii) Magnetic resonance imaging services;

(xiii) Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy services;

(xiv) Long-term care hospital services;

(xv) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Services;

(e) The relocation of one or more health services from one physical facility or site to another physical facility or site, unless such relocation, which does not involve a capital expenditure by or on behalf of a health care facility, (i) is to a physical facility or site within one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet from the main entrance of the health care facility where the health care service is located, or (ii) is the result of an order of a court of appropriate jurisdiction or a result of pending litigation in such court, or by order of the State Department of Health, or by order of any other agency or legal entity of the state, the federal government, or any political subdivision of either, whose order is also approved by the State Department of Health;

(f) The acquisition or otherwise control of any major medical equipment for the provision of medical services; provided, however, (i) the acquisition of any major medical equipment used only for research purposes, and (ii) the acquisition of major medical equipment to replace medical equipment for which a facility is already providing medical services and for which the State Department of Health has been notified before the date of such acquisition shall be exempt from this paragraph; an acquisition for less than fair market value must be reviewed, if the acquisition at fair market value would be subject to review;

(g) Changes of ownership of existing health care facilities in which a notice of intent is not filed with the State Department of Health at least thirty (30) days prior to the date such change of ownership occurs, or a change in services or bed capacity as prescribed in paragraph (c) or (d) of this subsection as a result of the change of ownership; an acquisition for less than fair market value must be reviewed, if the acquisition at fair market value would be subject to review;

(h) The change of ownership of any health care facility defined in subparagraphs (iv), (vi) and (viii) of Section 41-7-173(h), in which a notice of intent as described in paragraph (g) has not been filed and if the Executive Director, Division of Medicaid, Office of the Governor, has not certified in writing that there will be no increase in allowable costs to Medicaid from revaluation of the assets or from increased interest and depreciation as a result of the proposed change of ownership;

(i) Any activity described in paragraphs (a) through (h) if undertaken by any person if that same activity would require certificate of need approval if undertaken by a health care facility;

(j) Any capital expenditure or deferred capital expenditure by or on behalf of a health care facility not covered by paragraphs (a) through (h);

(k) The contracting of a health care facility as defined in subparagraphs (i) through (viii) of Section 41-7-173(h) to establish a home office, subunit, or branch office in the space operated as a health care facility through a formal arrangement with an existing health care facility as defined in subparagraph (ix) of Section 41-7-173(h).

(2) The State Department of Health shall not grant approval for or issue a certificate of need to any person proposing the new construction of, addition to, or expansion of any health care facility defined in subparagraphs (iv) (skilled nursing facility) and (vi) (intermediate care facility) of Section 41-7-173(h) or the conversion of vacant hospital beds to provide skilled or intermediate nursing home care, except as hereinafter authorized:

(a) The total number of nursing home beds as defined in subparagraphs (iv) and (vi) of Section 41-7-173(h) which may be authorized by such certificates of need issued during the period beginning on July 1, 1989, and ending on June 30, 1999, shall not exceed one thousand four hundred seventy (1,470) beds. The number of nursing home beds authorized under paragraphs (z), (cc), (dd), (ee) and (ff) of this subsection (2) shall not be counted in the limit on the total number of beds provided for in this paragraph (a).

(b) The department may issue a certificate of need to any of the hospitals in the state which have a distinct part component of the hospital that was constructed for extended care use (nursing home care) but is not currently licensed to provide nursing home care, which certificate of need will authorize the distinct part component to be operated to provide nursing home care after a license is obtained. The six (6) hospitals which currently have these distinct part components and which are eligible for a certificate of need under this section are: Webster General Hospital in Webster County, Tippah County General Hospital in Tippah County, Tishomingo County Hospital in Tishomingo County, North Sunflower County Hospital in Sunflower County, H.C. Watkins Hospital in Clarke County and Northwest Regional Medical Center in Coahoma County. Because the facilities to be considered currently exist and no new construction is required, the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the 1989 State Health Plan is waived. The total number of nursing home care beds that may be authorized by certificates of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed one hundred fifty-four (154) beds.

(c) The department may issue a certificate of need to any person proposing the new construction of any health care facility defined in subparagraphs (iv) and (vi) of Section 41-7-173(h) as part of a life care retirement facility, in any county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico in which is located a National Aeronautics and Space Administration facility, not to exceed forty (40) beds, provided that the owner of the health care facility on July 1, 1994, agrees in writing that no more than twenty (20) of the beds in the health care facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than twenty (20) patients in the health care facility in any day or for any patient in the health care facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the owner of the health care facility on July 1, 1994, shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the health care facility if the ownership of the health care facility is transferred at any time after July 1, 1994. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than twenty (20) of the beds in the health care facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the health care facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the health care facility on a regular or continuing basis more than twenty (20) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the health care facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the health care facility has violated the terms of the written agreement as provided in this paragraph.

(d) The department may issue a certificate of need for the conversion of existing beds in a county district hospital or in a personal care home in Holmes County to provide nursing home care in the county. Because the facilities to be considered currently exist, no new construction shall be authorized by such certificate of need. Because the facilities to be considered currently exist and no new construction is required, the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the 1989 State Health Plan is waived. The total number of nursing home care beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed sixty (60) beds.

(e) The department may issue a certificate of need for the conversion of existing hospital beds to provide nursing home care in a county hospital in Jasper County that has its own licensed nursing home located adjacent to the hospital. The total number of nursing home care beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed twenty (20) beds.

(f) The department may issue a certificate of need for the conversion of existing hospital beds in a hospital in Calhoun County to provide nursing home care in the county. The total number of nursing home care beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed twenty (20) beds.

(g) The department may issue a certificate of need for the conversion of existing hospital beds to provide nursing home care, not to exceed twenty-five (25) beds, in George County.

(h) Provided all criteria specified in the 1989 State Health Plan are met and the proposed nursing home is within no more than a fifteen-minute transportation time to an existing hospital, the department may issue a certificate of need for the construction of one (1) sixty-bed nursing home in Benton County.

(i) The department may issue a certificate of need to provide nursing home care in Neshoba County, not to exceed a total of twenty (20) beds. The provision of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived for the purposes of this paragraph.

(j) The department may issue certificates of need on a pilot-program basis for county-owned hospitals in Kemper and Chickasaw Counties to convert vacant hospital beds to nursing home beds, not to exceed fifty (50) beds statewide.

(k) The department may issue certificates of need in Harrison County to provide skilled nursing home care for Alzheimer's Disease patients and other patients, not to exceed one hundred fifty (150) beds, provided that (i) the owner of the health care facility issued a certificate of need for sixty (60) beds agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds in the health care facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), (ii) the owner of one (1) of the health care facilities issued a certificate of need for forty-five (45) beds agrees in writing that no more than twenty-three (23) of the beds in the health care facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program, and (iii) the owner of the other health care facility issued a certificate of need for forty-five (45) beds agrees in writing that no more than twenty-two (22) of the beds in the health care facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program, and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for a number of patients in the health care facility in any day that is greater than the number of beds certified for participation in the Medicaid program or for any patient in the health care facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. These written agreements by the owners of the health care facilities on July 1, 1995, shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of any of the health care facilities if the ownership of any of the health care facilities is transferred at any time after July 1, 1995. After these written agreements are executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify for participation in the Medicaid program more than the number of beds authorized for participation in the Medicaid program under this paragraph (k) for each respective facility. If any of the health care facilities violates the terms of the written agreement by

admitting or keeping in the health care facility on a regular or

continuing basis a number of patients that is greater than the number of beds certified for participation in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the health care facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the health care facility has violated the terms of the written agreement as provided in this paragraph.

(l) The department may issue certificates of need for the new construction of, addition to, or expansion of any skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility in Jackson County, not to exceed a total of sixty (60) beds.

(m) The department may issue a certificate of need for the new construction of, addition to, or expansion of a nursing home, or the conversion of existing hospital beds to provide nursing home care, in Hancock County. The total number of nursing home care beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed sixty (60) beds.

(n) The department may issue a certificate of need to any intermediate care facility as defined in Section 41-7-173(h)(vi) in Marion County which has fewer than sixty (60) beds, for making additions to or expansion or replacement of the existing facility in order to increase the number of its beds to not more than sixty (60) beds. For the purposes of this paragraph, the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived. The total number of nursing home beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed twenty-five (25) beds.

(o) The department may issue a certificate of need for the conversion of nursing home beds, not to exceed thirteen (13) beds, in Winston County. The provision of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is hereby waived as to such construction or expansion.

(p) The department shall issue a certificate of need for the construction, expansion or conversion of nursing home care, not to exceed thirty-three (33) beds, in Pontotoc County. The provisions of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan are hereby waived as to such construction, expansion or conversion.

(q) The department may issue a certificate of need for the construction of a pediatric skilled nursing facility in Harrison County, not to exceed sixty (60) new beds. For the purposes of this paragraph, the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived.

(r) The department may issue a certificate of need for the addition to or expansion of any skilled nursing facility that is part of an existing continuing care retirement community located in Madison County, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the skilled nursing facility will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the skilled nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the skilled nursing facility, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the skilled nursing facility will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this paragraph (r), and if such skilled nursing facility at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the skilled nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. The total number of beds that may be authorized under the authority of this paragraph (r) shall not exceed sixty (60) beds.

(s) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need to any hospital located in DeSoto County for the new construction of a skilled nursing facility, not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) beds, in DeSoto County, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds in the skilled nursing facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than thirty (30) patients in the facility in any day or for any patient in the facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the skilled nursing facility if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than thirty (30) of the beds in the skilled nursing facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the skilled nursing facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the facility on a regular or continuing basis more than thirty (30) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. If the skilled nursing facility authorized by the certificate of need issued under this paragraph is not constructed and fully operational within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1994, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall not issue a license for the facility at any time after the expiration of the eighteen-month period.

(t) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need for the construction of a nursing facility or the conversion of beds to nursing facility beds at a personal care facility for the elderly in Lowndes County that is owned and operated by a Mississippi nonprofit corporation, not to exceed sixty (60) beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds at the facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than thirty (30) patients in the facility in any month or for any patient in the facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the facility if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than thirty (30) of the beds in the facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the facility on a regular or continuing basis more than thirty (30) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. If the nursing facility or nursing facility beds authorized by the certificate of need issued under this paragraph are not constructed or converted and fully operational within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1994, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall not issue a license for the nursing facility or nursing facility beds at any time after the expiration of the eighteen-month period.

(u) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need for conversion of a county hospital facility in Itawamba County to a nursing facility, not to exceed sixty (60) beds, including any necessary construction, renovation or expansion, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds at the facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than thirty (30) patients in the facility in any day or for any patient in the facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the facility if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than thirty (30) of the beds in the facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the facility on a regular or continuing basis more than thirty (30) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. If the beds authorized by the certificate of need issued under this paragraph are not converted to nursing facility beds and fully operational within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1994, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall not issue a license for the facility at any time after the expiration of the eighteen-month period.

(v) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need for the construction or expansion of nursing facility beds or the conversion of other beds to nursing facility beds in either Hinds, Madison or Rankin Counties, not to exceed sixty (60) beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds at the nursing facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than thirty (30) patients in the nursing facility in any day or for any patient in the nursing facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the nursing facility if the ownership of the nursing facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than thirty (30) of the beds in the nursing facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the nursing facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the nursing facility on a regular or continuing basis more than thirty (30) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the nursing facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. If the nursing facility or nursing facility beds authorized by the certificate of need issued under this paragraph are not constructed, expanded or converted and fully operational within thirty-six (36) months after July 1, 1994, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall not issue a license for the nursing facility or nursing facility beds at any time after the expiration of the thirty-six-month period.

(w) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need for the construction or expansion of nursing facility beds or the conversion of other beds to nursing facility beds in either Hancock, Harrison or Jackson Counties, not to exceed sixty (60) beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds at the nursing facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than thirty (30) patients in the nursing facility in any day or for any patient in the nursing facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the nursing facility if the ownership of the nursing facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than thirty (30) of the beds in the nursing facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the nursing facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the nursing facility on a regular or continuing basis more than thirty (30) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the nursing facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. If the nursing facility or nursing facility beds authorized by the certificate of need issued under this paragraph are not constructed, expanded or converted and fully operational within thirty-six (36) months after July 1, 1994, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall not issue a license for the nursing facility or nursing facility beds at any time after the expiration of the thirty-six-month period.

(x) The department may issue a certificate of need for the new construction of a skilled nursing facility in Leake County, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the skilled nursing facility will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the skilled nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the skilled nursing facility, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the skilled nursing facility will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this paragraph (x), and if such skilled nursing facility at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the skilled nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. The provision of Section 43-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance of the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived for the purposes of this paragraph. The total number of nursing facility beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph (x) shall not exceed sixty (60) beds. If the skilled nursing facility authorized by the certificate of need issued under this paragraph is not constructed and fully operational within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1994, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall not issue a license for the skilled nursing facility at any time after the expiration of the eighteen-month period.

(y) The department may issue a certificate of need in Jones County for making additions to or expansion or replacement of an existing forty-bed facility in order to increase the number of its beds to not more than sixty (60) beds. For the purposes of this paragraph, the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived. The total number of nursing home beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph shall not exceed twenty (20) beds.

(z) The department may issue certificates of need to allow any existing freestanding long-term care facility in Tishomingo County and Hancock County that on July 1, 1995, is licensed with fewer than sixty (60) beds to increase the number of its beds to not more than sixty (60) beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that none of the additional beds authorized by this paragraph (z) at the nursing facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement in the nursing facility for a number of patients in the nursing facility in any day that is greater than the number of licensed beds in the facility on July 1, 1995. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the nursing facility if the ownership of the nursing facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more beds in the nursing facility for participation in the Medicaid program than the number of licensed beds in the facility on July 1, 1995. If the nursing facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the nursing facility on a regular or continuing basis a number of patients who are participating in the Medicaid program that is greater than the number of licensed beds in the facility on July 1, 1995, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the nursing facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. For the purposes of this paragraph (z), the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived.

(aa) The department may issue a certificate of need for the construction of a nursing facility at a continuing care retirement community in Lowndes County, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the nursing facility will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the nursing facility, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the nursing facility will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this paragraph (aa), and if such nursing facility at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. The total number of beds that may be authorized under the authority of this paragraph (aa) shall not exceed sixty (60) beds.

(bb) Provided that funds are specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the department may issue a certificate of need to a rehabilitation hospital in Hinds County for the construction of a sixty-bed long-term care nursing facility dedicated to the care and treatment of persons with severe disabilities including persons with spinal cord and closed-head injuries and ventilator-dependent patients. The provision of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is hereby waived for the purpose of this paragraph.

(cc) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need to a county-owned hospital in the Second Judicial District of Panola County for the conversion of not more than seventy-two (72) hospital beds to nursing facility beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that none of the beds at the nursing facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement in the nursing facility in any day or for any patient in the nursing facility. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the nursing facility if the ownership of the nursing facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify any of the beds in the nursing facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the nursing facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the nursing facility on a regular or continuing basis any patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the nursing facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement. If the certificate of need authorized under this paragraph is not issued within twelve (12) months after July 1, 1998, the department shall deny the application for the certificate of need and shall not issue the certificate of need at any time after the twelve-month period, unless the issuance is contested. If the certificate of need is issued and substantial construction of the nursing facility beds has not commenced within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1998, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need if it is still outstanding, and the department shall not issue a license for the nursing facility at any time after the eighteen-month period. Provided, however, that if the issuance of the certificate of need is contested, the department shall require substantial construction of the nursing facility beds within six (6) months after final adjudication on the issuance of the certificate of need.

(dd) The department may issue a certificate of need for the new construction, addition or conversion of skilled nursing facility beds in Madison County, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the skilled nursing facility will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the skilled nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the skilled nursing facility, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the skilled nursing facility will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this paragraph (dd), and if such skilled nursing facility at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the skilled nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. The total number of nursing facility beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph (dd) shall not exceed sixty (60) beds. If the certificate of need authorized under this paragraph is not issued within twelve (12) months after July 1, 1998, the department shall deny the application for the certificate of need and shall not issue the certificate of need at any time after the twelve-month period, unless the issuance is contested. If the certificate of need is issued and substantial construction of the nursing facility beds has not commenced within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1998, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need if it is still outstanding, and the department shall not issue a license for the nursing facility at any time after the eighteen-month period. Provided, however, that if the issuance of the certificate of need is contested, the department shall require substantial construction of the nursing facility beds within six (6) months after final adjudication on the issuance of the certificate of need.

(ee) The department may issue a certificate of need for the new construction, addition or conversion of skilled nursing facility beds in Leake County, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the skilled nursing facility will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the skilled nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the skilled nursing facility, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the skilled nursing facility will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this paragraph (ee), and if such skilled nursing facility at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the skilled nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. The total number of nursing facility beds that may be authorized by any certificate of need issued under this paragraph (ee) shall not exceed sixty (60) beds. If the certificate of need authorized under this paragraph is not issued within twelve (12) months after July 1, 1998, the department shall deny the application for the certificate of need and shall not issue the certificate of need at any time after the twelve-month period, unless the issuance is contested. If the certificate of need is issued and substantial construction of the nursing facility beds has not commenced within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1998, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need if it is still outstanding, and the department shall not issue a license for the nursing facility at any time after the eighteen-month period. Provided, however, that if the issuance of the certificate of need is contested, the department shall require substantial construction of the nursing facility beds within six (6) months after final adjudication on the issuance of the certificate of need.

(ff) The department may issue a certificate of need for the construction of a municipally-owned nursing facility within the Town of Belmont in Tishomingo County, not to exceed sixty (60) beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the skilled nursing facility will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the skilled nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the skilled nursing facility, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the skilled nursing facility will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this paragraph (ff), and if such skilled nursing facility at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the skilled nursing facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. The provision of Section 43-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance of the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived for the purposes of this paragraph. If the certificate of need authorized under this paragraph is not issued within twelve (12) months after July 1, 1998, the department shall deny the application for the certificate of need and shall not issue the certificate of need at any time after the twelve-month period, unless the issuance is contested. If the certificate of need is issued and substantial construction of the nursing facility beds has not commenced within eighteen (18) months after July 1, 1998, the State Department of Health, after a hearing complying with due process, shall revoke the certificate of need if it is still outstanding, and the department shall not issue a license for the nursing facility at any time after the eighteen-month period. Provided, however, that if the issuance of the certificate of need is contested, the department shall require substantial construction of the nursing facility beds within six (6) months after final adjudication on the issuance of the certificate of need.

(3) If the holder of the certificate of need that was issued before January 1, 1990, for the construction of a nursing home in Claiborne County has not substantially undertaken commencement of construction by completing site works and pouring foundations and the floor slab of a nursing home in Claiborne County before May 1, 1990, as determined by the department, then the department shall transfer such certificate of need to the Board of Supervisors of Claiborne County upon the effective date of this subsection (3). If the certificate of need is transferred to the board of supervisors, it shall be valid for a period of twelve (12) months and shall authorize the construction of a sixty-bed nursing home on county-owned property or the conversion of vacant hospital beds in the county hospital not to exceed sixty (60) beds.

(4) The State Department of Health may grant approval for and issue certificates of need to any person proposing the new construction of, addition to, conversion of beds of or expansion of any health care facility defined in subparagraph (x) (psychiatric residential treatment facility) of Section 41-7-173(h). The total number of beds which may be authorized by such certificates of need shall not exceed two hundred seventy-four (274) beds for the entire state.

(a) Of the total number of beds authorized under this subsection, the department shall issue a certificate of need to a privately owned psychiatric residential treatment facility in Simpson County for the conversion of sixteen (16) intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded (ICF-MR) beds to psychiatric residential treatment facility beds, provided that facility agrees in writing that the facility shall give priority for the use of those sixteen (16) beds to Mississippi residents who are presently being treated in out-of-state facilities.

(b) Of the total number of beds authorized under this subsection, the department may issue a certificate or certificates of need for the construction or expansion of psychiatric residential treatment facility beds or the conversion of other beds to psychiatric residential treatment facility beds in Warren County, not to exceed sixty (60) psychiatric residential treatment facility beds, provided that the facility agrees in writing that no more than thirty (30) of the beds at the psychiatric residential treatment facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) for the use of any patients other than those who are participating only in the Medicaid program of another state, and that no claim will be submitted to the Division of Medicaid for Medicaid reimbursement for more than thirty (30) patients in the psychiatric residential treatment facility in any day or for any patient in the psychiatric residential treatment facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the psychiatric residential treatment facility if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than thirty (30) of the beds in the psychiatric residential treatment facility for participation in the Medicaid program for the use of any patients other than those who are participating only in the Medicaid program of another state. If the psychiatric residential treatment facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the facility on a regular or continuing basis more than thirty (30) patients who are participating in the Mississippi Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement.

(c) Of the total number of beds authorized under this subsection, the department shall issue a certificate of need to a hospital currently operating Medicaid-certified acute psychiatric beds for adolescents in DeSoto County, for the establishment of a forty-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility in DeSoto County, provided that the hospital agrees in writing (i) that the hospital shall give priority for the use of those forty (40) beds to Mississippi residents who are presently being treated in out-of-state facilities, and (ii) that no more than fifteen (15) of the beds at the psychiatric residential treatment facility will be certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), and that no claim will be submitted for Medicaid reimbursement for more than fifteen (15) patients in the psychiatric residential treatment facility in any day or for any patient in the psychiatric residential treatment facility who is in a bed that is not Medicaid-certified. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be a condition of the issuance of the certificate of need under this paragraph, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the psychiatric residential treatment facility if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. After this written agreement is executed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify more than fifteen (15) of the beds in the psychiatric residential treatment facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the psychiatric residential treatment facility violates the terms of the written agreement by admitting or keeping in the facility on a regular or continuing basis more than fifteen (15) patients who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the facility, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has violated the condition upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement.

(d) Of the total number of beds authorized under this subsection, the department may issue a certificate or certificates of need for the construction or expansion of psychiatric residential treatment facility beds or the conversion of other beds to psychiatric treatment facility beds, not to exceed thirty (30) psychiatric residential treatment facility beds, in either Alcorn, Tishomingo, Prentiss, Lee, Itawamba, Monroe, Chickasaw, Pontotoc, Calhoun, Lafayette, Union, Benton or Tippah Counties.

(e) Of the total number of beds authorized under this subsection (4) the department shall issue a certificate of need to a privately owned, nonprofit psychiatric residential treatment facility in Hinds County for an eight-bed expansion of the facility, provided that the facility agrees in writing that the facility shall give priority for the use of those eight (8) beds to Mississippi residents who are presently being treated in out-of-state facilities.

(5) (a) From and after July 1, 1993, the department shall not issue a certificate of need to any person for the new construction of any hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital that will contain any child/adolescent psychiatric or child/adolescent chemical dependency beds, or for the conversion of any other health care facility to a hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital that will contain any child/adolescent psychiatric or child/adolescent chemical dependency beds, or for the addition of any child/adolescent psychiatric or child/adolescent chemical dependency beds in any hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital, or for the conversion of any beds of another category in any hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital to child/adolescent psychiatric or child/adolescent chemical dependency beds, except as hereinafter authorized:

(i) The department may issue certificates of need to any person for any purpose described in this subsection, provided that the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital does not participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) at the time of the application for the certificate of need and the owner of the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital agrees in writing that the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program or admit or keep any patients who are participating in the Medicaid program in the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this subparagraph (a)(i), and if such hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this subparagraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need.

(ii) The department may issue a certificate of need for the conversion of existing beds in a county hospital in Choctaw County from acute care beds to child/adolescent chemical dependency beds. For purposes of this paragraph, the provisions of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived. The total number of beds that may be authorized under authority of this paragraph shall not exceed twenty (20) beds. There shall be no prohibition or restrictions on participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) for the hospital receiving the certificate of need authorized under this subparagraph (a)(ii) or for the beds converted pursuant to the authority of that certificate of need.

(iii) The department may issue a certificate or certificates of need for the construction or expansion of child/adolescent psychiatric beds or the conversion of other beds to child/adolescent psychiatric beds in Warren County. For purposes of this subparagraph, the provisions of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan are waived. The total number of beds that may be authorized under the authority of this subparagraph shall not exceed twenty (20) beds. There shall be no prohibition or restrictions on participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) for the person receiving the certificate of need authorized under this subparagraph (a)(iii) or for the beds converted pursuant to the authority of that certificate of need.

(iv) The department shall issue a certificate of need to the Region 7 Mental Health/Retardation Commission for the construction or expansion of child/adolescent psychiatric beds or the conversion of other beds to child/adolescent psychiatric beds in any of the counties served by the commission. For purposes of this subparagraph, the provisions of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived. The total number of beds that may be authorized under the authority of this subparagraph shall not exceed twenty (20) beds. There shall be no prohibition or restrictions on participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) for the person receiving the certificate of need authorized under this subparagraph (a)(iv) or for the beds converted pursuant to the authority of that certificate of need.

(v) The department may issue a certificate of need to any county hospital located in Leflore County for the construction or expansion of adult psychiatric beds or the conversion of other beds to adult psychiatric beds, not to exceed twenty (20) beds, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the adult psychiatric beds will not at any time be certified for participation in the Medicaid program and that the hospital will not admit or keep any patients who are participating in the Medicaid program in any of such adult psychiatric beds. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the hospital if the ownership of the hospital is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the adult psychiatric beds will not be certified for participation in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this subparagraph (a)(v), and if such hospital at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the hospital, has any of such adult psychiatric beds certified for participation in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any Medicaid patients in such adult psychiatric beds, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the hospital at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the hospital has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this subparagraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need.

(b) From and after July 1, 1990, no hospital, psychiatric hospital or chemical dependency hospital shall be authorized to add any child/adolescent psychiatric or child/adolescent chemical dependency beds or convert any beds of another category to child/adolescent psychiatric or child/adolescent chemical dependency beds without a certificate of need under the authority of subsection (1)(c) of this section.

(6) The department may issue a certificate of need to a county hospital in Winston County for the conversion of fifteen (15) acute care beds to geriatric psychiatric care beds.

(7) The State Department of Health shall issue a certificate of need to a Mississippi corporation qualified to manage a long-term care hospital as defined in Section 41-7-173(h)(xii) in Harrison County, not to exceed eighty (80) beds, including any necessary renovation or construction required for licensure and certification, provided that the recipient of the certificate of need agrees in writing that the long-term care hospital will not at any time participate in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.) or admit or keep any patients in the long-term care hospital who are participating in the Medicaid program. This written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the long-term care hospital, if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need. Agreement that the long-term care hospital will not participate in the Medicaid program shall be a condition of the issuance of a certificate of need to any person under this subsection (7), and if such long-term care hospital at any time after the issuance of the certificate of need, regardless of the ownership of the facility, participates in the Medicaid program or admits or keeps any patients in the facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, the State Department of Health shall revoke the certificate of need, if it is still outstanding, and shall deny or revoke the license of the long-term care hospital, at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has failed to comply with any of the conditions upon which the certificate of need was issued, as provided in this paragraph and in the written agreement by the recipient of the certificate of need. For purposes of this paragraph, the provision of Section 41-7-193(1) requiring substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is hereby waived.

(8) The State Department of Health may issue a certificate of need to any hospital in the state to utilize a portion of its beds for the "swing-bed" concept. Any such hospital must be in conformance with the federal regulations regarding such swing-bed concept at the time it submits its application for a certificate of need to the State Department of Health, except that such hospital may have more licensed beds or a higher average daily census (ADC) than the maximum number specified in federal regulations for participation in the swing-bed program. Any hospital meeting all federal requirements for participation in the swing-bed program which receives such certificate of need shall render services provided under the swing-bed concept to any patient eligible for Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act) who is certified by a physician to be in need of such services, and no such hospital shall permit any patient who is eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare or eligible only for Medicaid to stay in the swing beds of the hospital for more than thirty (30) days per admission unless the hospital receives prior approval for such patient from the Division of Medicaid, Office of the Governor. Any hospital having more licensed beds or a higher average daily census (ADC) than the maximum number specified in federal regulations for participation in the swing-bed program which receives such certificate of need shall develop a procedure to insure that before a patient is allowed to stay in the swing beds of the hospital, there are no vacant nursing home beds available for that patient located within a fifty-mile radius of the hospital. When any such hospital has a patient staying in the swing beds of the hospital and the hospital receives notice from a nursing home located within such radius that there is a vacant bed available for that patient, the hospital shall transfer the patient to the nursing home within a reasonable time after receipt of the notice. Any hospital which is subject to the requirements of the two (2) preceding sentences of this paragraph may be suspended from participation in the swing-bed program for a reasonable period of time by the State Department of Health if the department, after a hearing complying with due process, determines that the hospital has failed to comply with any of those requirements.

(9) The Department of Health shall not grant approval for or issue a certificate of need to any person proposing the new construction of, addition to or expansion of a health care facility as defined in subparagraph (viii) of Section 41-7-173(h). (10) The Department of Health shall not grant approval for or issue a certificate of need to any person proposing the establishment of, or expansion of the currently approved territory of, or the contracting to establish a home office, subunit or branch office within the space operated as a health care facility as defined in Section 41-7-173(h)(i) through (viii) by a health care facility as defined in subparagraph (ix) of Section 41-7-173(h).

(11) Health care facilities owned and/or operated by the state or its agencies are exempt from the restraints in this section against issuance of a certificate of need if such addition or expansion consists of repairing or renovation necessary to comply with the state licensure law. This exception shall not apply to the new construction of any building by such state facility. This exception shall not apply to any health care facilities owned and/or operated by counties, municipalities, districts, unincorporated areas, other defined persons, or any combination thereof.

(12) The new construction, renovation or expansion of or addition to any health care facility defined in subparagraph (ii) (psychiatric hospital), subparagraph (iv) (skilled nursing facility), subparagraph (vi) (intermediate care facility), subparagraph (viii) (intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded) and subparagraph (x) (psychiatric residential treatment facility) of Section 41-7-173(h) which is owned by the State of Mississippi and under the direction and control of the State Department of Mental Health, and the addition of new beds or the conversion of beds from one category to another in any such defined health care facility which is owned by the State of Mississippi and under the direction and control of the State Department of Mental Health, shall not require the issuance of a certificate of need under Section 41-7-171 et seq., notwithstanding any provision in Section 41-7-171 et seq. to the contrary.

(13) The new construction, renovation or expansion of or addition to any veterans homes or domiciliaries for eligible veterans of the State of Mississippi as authorized under Section 35-1-19 shall not require the issuance of a certificate of need, notwithstanding any provision in Section 41-7-171 et seq. to the contrary.

(14) The new construction of a nursing facility or nursing facility beds or the conversion of other beds to nursing facility beds shall not require the issuance of a certificate of need, notwithstanding any provision in Section 41-7-171 et seq. to the contrary, if the conditions of this subsection are met.

(a) Before any construction or conversion may be undertaken without a certificate of need, the owner of the nursing facility, in the case of an existing facility, or the applicant to construct a nursing facility, in the case of new construction, first must file a written notice of intent and sign a written agreement with the State Department of Health that the entire nursing facility will not at any time participate in or have any beds certified for participation in the Medicaid program (Section 43-13-101 et seq.), will not admit or keep any patients in the nursing facility who are participating in the Medicaid program, and will not submit any claim for Medicaid reimbursement for any patient in the facility. This written agreement by the owner or applicant shall be a condition of exercising the authority under this subsection without a certificate of need, and the agreement shall be fully binding on any subsequent owner of the nursing facility if the ownership of the facility is transferred at any time after the agreement is signed. After the written agreement is signed, the Division of Medicaid and the State Department of Health shall not certify any beds in the nursing facility for participation in the Medicaid program. If the nursing facility violates the terms of the written agreement by participating in the Medicaid program, having any beds certified for participation in the Medicaid program, admitting or keeping any patient in the facility who is participating in the Medicaid program, or submitting any claim for Medicaid reimbursement for any patient in the facility, the State Department of Health shall revoke the license of the nursing facility at the time that the department determines, after a hearing complying with due process, that the facility has violated the terms of the written agreement.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, participation in the Medicaid program by a nursing facility includes Medicaid reimbursement of coinsurance and deductibles for recipients who are qualified Medicare beneficiaries and/or those who are dually eligible. Any nursing facility exercising the authority under this subsection may not bill or submit a claim to the Division of Medicaid for services to qualified Medicare beneficiaries and/or those who are dually eligible.

(c) The new construction of a nursing facility or nursing facility beds or the conversion of other beds to nursing facility beds described in this section must be either a part of a completely new continuing care retirement community, as described in the latest edition of the Mississippi State Health Plan, or an addition to existing personal care and independent living components, and so that the completed project will be a continuing care retirement community, containing (i) independent living accommodations, (ii) personal care beds, and (iii) the nursing home facility beds. The three (3) components must be located on a single site and be operated as one (1) inseparable facility. The nursing facility component must contain a minimum of thirty (30) beds. Any nursing facility beds authorized by this section will not be counted against the bed need set forth in the State Health Plan, as identified in Section 41-7-171 et seq.

This subsection (14) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2001.

(15) The State Department of Health shall issue a certificate of need to any hospital which is currently licensed for two hundred fifty (250) or more acute care beds and is located in any general hospital service area not having a comprehensive cancer center, for the establishment and equipping of such a center which provides facilities and services for outpatient radiation oncology therapy, outpatient medical oncology therapy, and appropriate support services including the provision of radiation therapy services. The provision of Section 41-7-193(1) regarding substantial compliance with the projection of need as reported in the current State Health Plan is waived for the purpose of this subsection.

SECTION 3. Section 41-7-201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-7-201. (1) The provisions of this subsection (1) shall apply to any party appealing any final order of the State Department of Health pertaining to a certificate of need for a home health agency, as defined in Section 41-7-173(h)(ix):

(a) In addition to other remedies now available at law or in equity, any party aggrieved by any such final order of the State Department of Health shall have the right of appeal to the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, which appeal must be filed within thirty (30) days after the date of the final order. Provided, however, that any appeal of an order disapproving an application for such a certificate of need may be made to the chancery court of the county where the proposed construction, expansion or alteration was to be located or the new service or purpose of the capital expenditure was to be located. Such appeal must be filed in accordance with the thirty (30) days for filing as heretofore provided. Any appeal shall state briefly the nature of the proceedings before the State Department of Health and shall specify the order complained of. Any person whose rights may be materially affected by the action of the State Department of Health may appear and become a party or the court may, upon motion, order that any such person, organization or entity be joined as a necessary party.

(b) Upon the filing of such an appeal, the clerk of the chancery court shall serve notice thereof upon the State Department of Health, whereupon the State Department of Health shall, within fifty (50) days or within such additional time as the court may by order for cause allow from the service of such notice, certify to the chancery court the record in the case, which records shall include a transcript of all testimony, together with all exhibits or copies thereof, all pleadings, proceedings, orders, findings and opinions entered in the case; provided, however, that the parties and the State Department of Health may stipulate that a specified portion only of the record shall be certified to the court as the record on appeal.

(c) No new or additional evidence shall be introduced in the chancery court but the case shall be determined upon the record certified to the court.

(d) The court may dispose of the appeal in termtime or vacation and may sustain or dismiss the appeal, modify or vacate the order complained of in whole or in part as the case may be; but in case the order is wholly or partly vacated, the court may also, in its discretion, remand the matter to the State Department of Health for such further proceedings, not inconsistent with the court's order, as, in the opinion of the court, justice may require. The order shall not be vacated or set aside, either in whole or in part, except for errors of law, unless the court finds that the order of the State Department of Health is not supported by substantial evidence, is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, is in excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the State Department of Health, or violates any vested constitutional rights of any party involved in the appeal. Provided, however, an order of the chancery court reversing the denial of a certificate of need by the State Department of Health shall not entitle the applicant to effectuate the certificate of need until either:

(i) Such order of the chancery court has become final and has not been appealed to the Supreme Court; or

(ii) The Supreme Court has entered a final order affirming the chancery court.

(e) Appeals in accordance with law may be had to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi from any final judgment of the chancery court.

(2) The provisions of this subsection (2) shall apply to any party appealing any final order of the State Department of Health pertaining to a certificate of need for any health care facility as defined in Section 41-7-173(h), with the exception of any home health agency as defined in Section 41-7-173(h)(ix):

(a) There shall be a "stay of proceedings" of any final order issued by the State Department of Health pertaining to the issuance of a certificate of need for the establishment, construction, expansion or replacement of a health care facility for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of the order, if an existing provider located in the same service area where the health care facility is or will be located has requested a hearing during the course of review in opposition to the issuance of the certificate of need. The stay of proceedings shall expire at the termination of thirty (30) days; however, no construction, renovation or other capital expenditure that is the subject of the order shall be undertaken, no license to operate any facility that is the subject of the order shall be issued by the licensing agency, and no certification to participate in the Title XVIII or Title XIX programs of the Social Security Act shall be granted, until all statutory appeals have been exhausted or the time for such appeals has expired. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the filing of an appeal from a final order of the State Department of Health or the chancery court for the issuance of a certificate of need * * * shall not prevent the purchase of medical equipment or development or offering of institutional health services granted in a certificate of need issued by the State Department of Health. * * *

(b) In addition to other remedies now available at law or in equity, any party aggrieved by any such final order of the State Department of Health shall have the right of appeal to the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, which appeal must be filed within twenty (20) days after the date of the final order. Provided, however, that any appeal of an order disapproving an application for such a certificate of need may be made to the chancery court of the county where the proposed construction, expansion or alteration was to be located or the new service or purpose of the capital expenditure was to be located. Such appeal must be filed in accordance with the twenty (20) days for filing as heretofore provided. Any appeal shall state briefly the nature of the proceedings before the State Department of Health and shall specify the order complained of.

(c) Upon the filing of such an appeal, the clerk of the chancery court shall serve notice thereof upon the State Department of Health, whereupon the State Department of Health shall, within thirty (30) days of the date of the filing of the appeal, certify to the chancery court the record in the case, which records shall include a transcript of all testimony, together with all exhibits or copies thereof, all pleadings, proceedings, orders, findings and opinions entered in the case; provided, however, that the parties and the State Department of Health may stipulate that a specified portion only of the record shall be certified to the court as the record on appeal. The chancery court shall give preference to any such appeal from a final order by the State Department of Health in a certificate of need proceeding, and shall render a final order regarding such appeal no later than one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the final order by the State Department of Health. If the chancery court has not rendered a final order within this 120-day period, then the final order of the State Department of Health shall be deemed to have been affirmed by the chancery court, and any party to the appeal shall have the right to appeal from the chancery court to the Supreme Court on the record certified by the State Department of Health as otherwise provided in paragraph (g) of this subsection. In the event the chancery court has not rendered a final order within the 120-day period and an appeal is made to the Supreme Court as provided herein, the Supreme Court shall remand the case to the chancery court to make an award of costs, fees, reasonable expenses and attorney's fees incurred in favor of appellee payable by the appellant(s) should the Supreme Court affirm the order of the State Department of Health.

(d) Any appeal of a final order by the State Department of Health in a certificate of need proceeding shall require the giving of a bond by the appellant(s) sufficient to secure the appellee against the loss of costs, fees, expenses and attorney's fees incurred in defense of the appeal, approved by the chancery court within five (5) days of the date of filing the appeal.

(e) No new or additional evidence shall be introduced in the chancery court but the case shall be determined upon the record certified to the court.

(f) The court may dispose of the appeal in termtime or vacation and may sustain or dismiss the appeal, modify or vacate the order complained of in whole or in part and may make an award of costs, fees, expenses and attorney's fees, as the case may be; but in case the order is wholly or partly vacated, the court may also, in its discretion, remand the matter to the State Department of Health for such further proceedings, not inconsistent with the court's order, as, in the opinion of the court, justice may require. The court, as part of the final order, shall make an award of costs, fees, reasonable expenses and attorney's fees incurred in favor of appellee payable by the appellant(s) should the court affirm the order of the State Department of Health. The order shall not be vacated or set aside, either in whole or in part, except for errors of law, unless the court finds that the order of the State Department of Health is not supported by substantial evidence, is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, is in excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the State Department of Health, or violates any vested constitutional rights of any party involved in the appeal. Provided, however, an order of the chancery court reversing the denial of a certificate of need by the State Department of Health shall not entitle the applicant to effectuate the certificate of need until either:

(i) Such order of the chancery court has become final and has not been appealed to the Supreme Court; or

(ii) The Supreme Court has entered a final order affirming the chancery court.

(g) Appeals in accordance with law may be had to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi from any final judgment of the chancery court.

(h) Within thirty (30) days from the date of a final order by the Supreme Court or a final order of the chancery court not appealed to the Supreme Court that modifies or wholly or partly vacates the final order of the State Department of Health granting a certificate of need, the State Department of Health shall issue another order in conformity with the final order of the Supreme Court, or the final order of the chancery court not appealed to the Supreme Court.

SECTION 5. Section 41-7-205, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-7-205. The State Department of Health shall provide an expedited review for those projects which it determines to warrant such action. All requests for such an expedited review by the applicant must be made in writing to the State Department of Health. The State Department of Health shall make a determination as to whether expedited review is appropriate within fifteen (15) days after receipt of a written request. The State Department of Health shall render its decision concerning the issuance of a certificate of need within ninety (90) days after the receipt of a completed application. A project is subject to expedited review only if it meets one (1) of the following criteria:

(a) A transfer or change of ownership of a health care facility wherein the facility continues to operate under the same category of license or permit as it possessed prior to the date of the proposed change of ownership and none of the other activities described in Section 41-7-191(1) take place in conjunction with such transfer;

(b) Replacement of equipment with used equipment of similar capability if the equipment is included in the facility's annual capital expenditure budget or plan;

(c) A request for project cost overruns that exceed the rate of inflation as determined by the State Department of Health;

(d) A request for relocation of services or facilities if the relocation of such services or facilities (i) involves a capital expenditure by or on behalf of a health care facility, or (ii) is more than one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet from the main entrance of the health care facility or the facility where the service is located;

(e) A request for a certificate of need to comply with duly recognized fire, building, or life safety codes, or to comply with state licensure standards or accreditation standards required for reimbursements.

SECTION 6. Section 41-7-207, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-7-207. Notwithstanding any other provisions of Sections 41-7-171 to 41-7-209, when the need for any emergency replacement occurs, the certificate of need review process may be expedited by promulgation of administrative procedures for expenditures necessary to alleviate an emergency condition. Emergency replacement means the replacement of partial facilities or equipment the replacement of which is not exempt from certificate of need review pursuant to the medical equipment replacement exemption provided in Section 41-7-191(1)(f), without which the operation of the facility and the health and safety of patients would be immediately jeopardized. Expenditures under this section shall be limited to the replacement of those necessary facilities or equipment, the loss of which constitutes an emergency.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after June 30, 1999.