House Bill 1419

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS TO THE MAGNET COMMUNITY HEALTH DISPARITY PROGRAM TO BE USED TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE MINORITY COMMUNITY OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS AND DEATHS FROM COVID-19, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022.

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

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the State Department of Health for the purpose of providing funds to the MAGnet Community Health Disparity Program, whose mission is to strengthen collaboration and coordination for improved health access, performance, outcomes and cost efficiencies and whose vision is to improve the health status for all Mississippians through integrated health, which shall be used for the purposes described in Section 2 of this act, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022............................ $ 11,000,000.00.

SECTION 2. (1) The money appropriated by Section 1 of this act shall be used by the MAGnet Community Health Disparity Program to address the disproportionate impact on the minority community of coronavirus infections and deaths from COVID-19 by (a) developing and implementing plans to reduce and mitigate those occurrences and negative outcomes in the minority community during the continuation of the current COVID-19 public health emergency, and (b) taking actions to reduce the racial disparities in the distribution and availability of the COVID-19 vaccines and actions to reach out to the minority community to encourage them to get the vaccines.

(2) Federally Qualified Health Centers in the state are eligible to receive funding through the MAGnet Community Health Disparity Program from the funds appropriated by this act upon application submitted to the MAGnet Community Health Corporation for approval.

SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his or her warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.