House Bill 769

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE COVID-19 MISSISSIPPI LOCAL PROVIDER INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM AND ANY GRANT AWARDED UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDERS TO HELP COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDERS; TO SPECIFY THE INFORMATION THAT APPLICANTS FOR GRANTS MUST SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT APPLICANTS ARE LIMITED TO ONE APPLICATION PER BUSINESS ENTITY AND SUBSIDIARIES OF THE ENTITY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT SEPARATE APPLICATIONS; TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF A GRANT THAT MAY BE AWARDED TO AN APPLICANT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE FUNDED BY APPROPRIATION OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM THE CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection:

(a) "Local health care provider" or "provider" means a facility that is licensed, certified or otherwise authorized or permitted by law to provide health care in the ordinary course of business in the State of Mississippi, including, but not limited to, skilled nursing facilities, direct primary care clinics, provider owned clinics, rural health clinics, academic medical centers, community health centers and/or independent physician practices.

(b) "Transitional assistance" means any assistance related to changing a provider's current health care delivery model to a model more appropriate for the community that the provider serves, including, but not limited to:

(i) Conducting a market study of health care services needed and provided in the community;

(ii) Acquiring and implementing new technological tools and infrastructure, including, but not limited to, telemedicine delivery methods, development of health information exchange platforms to electronically share medical records, electronic health record optimization, purchasing connected devices, upgrading digital devices, improving broadband connectivity, public health reporting, and implementing online or mobile patient appointment management applications; and

(iii) Supporting the implementation of population health management.

(2) There is established the COVID-19 Mississippi Local Provider Innovation Grant Program to be administered by the State Department of Health. The program and any grant awarded under the program shall be for the purpose of strengthening and improving the health care system and increasing access to health care services providers to help communities achieve and maintain optimal health by providing transitional assistance to providers. The department may award an innovation grant to a local health care provider that applies in accordance with this section.

(3) Eligible local health care providers shall provide the following information to the department in their application for a grant:

(a) A description of the location or locations for which the grant monies will be expended, including the name and locations of where the provider administers health care services;

(b) A statement of the amount of grant monies requested;

(c) A description of the needs of the provider, the transitional assistance for which the grant monies will be expended and how such transitional assistance will meet the stated needs;

(d) Evidence that the provider has played an active role in the community to combat the spread of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, testing, vaccination and antibody treatment; and

(e) Any other information that the department deems necessary to administer this section.

(4) Applicants are limited to one (1) application per business entity as determined by the applicant's business filing status with the Secretary of State. Subsidiaries of the entity are not eligible to submit separate applications. Health systems that affiliate, own or control multiple clinics are only eligible to submit to one (1) application under the parent entity.

The department shall determine the amount of the grant to be awarded to each applicant based on the factors detailed in the application, with the maximum amount of a grant that may be awarded to an applicant being Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00).

(5) The COVID-19 Mississippi Local Provider Innovation Grant Program created under this section shall be funded by appropriation of the Legislature from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.