House Bill 578

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI HOSPITAL EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO HOSPITALS THAT ARE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES TO ASSIST THE HOSPITALS IN PROVIDING NEEDED DIRECT HEALTH CARE SERVICES; TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY GRANT FUND, WHICH SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND EXPENDED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING GRANTS TO HOSPITALS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETERMINE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EACH GRANT, AND TO SPECIFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE GRANTS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE ABOUT EACH GRANT MADE UNDER THIS ACT; 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 have the meanings as defined in this subsection:

(a) "Department" means the State Department of Health; and

(b) "Hospital" means a licensed hospital in Mississippi.

(2) The Mississippi Hospital Emergency Grant Program is established in the State Department of Health to provide grants to hospitals that are having financial difficulties to assist the hospitals in providing needed direct health care services for the citizens of the state by:

(a) Maintaining or upgrading the hospital's facilities; and/or

(b) Maintaining or increasing the current staff of the hospital.

(3) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Hospital Emergency Grant Fund, which shall be administered by the department. The fund shall consist of legislative appropriations, federal funds, contributions, donations, gifts and monies from any other source that are made available for deposit into the fund. Monies in the fund shall be expended by the department upon appropriation of the Legislature for the sole purpose of providing grants to hospitals under the provisions of this section. Monies remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

(4) The department shall determine the terms and conditions of each grant, which shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) To be eligible for a grant, a hospital must first submit to the department a current financial audit showing that the hospital is having financial difficulties;

(b) To qualify for a grant, a hospital must request funds for one (1) or both of the purposes specified in subsection (2) of this section, and a grant received by a hospital shall be used only for the requested purpose or purposes;

(c) The amount of each grant shall be determined by the department, with priority for grants of higher amounts being given to hospitals having the most financial difficulties.

(5) The department shall monitor the performance of each hospital that receives a grant under this section, and not later than October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the department shall report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee about each grant made, including:

(a) The name and location of the hospital;

(b) The amount of the grant;

(d) How the hospital used the grant related to facilities and/or staff.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.