MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representatives Mims, Scoggin, Faulkner, Anthony, McGee

House Bill 273

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HEALTH CARE IMPACT GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE GRANTS TO HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND PARTIALLY COMPENSATING HOSPITALS FOR THE COST OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE THAT THEY HAVE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANTS SHALL BE CALCULATED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LICENSED BEDS OF THE HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES; TO TRANSFER A CERTAIN SUM FROM THE CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY FUND TO THE CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY LOST REVENUE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THIS PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  There is established the Health Care Impact Grant Program to be administered by the State Department of Health.  The program shall provide grants to hospitals and long-term care facilities for the purpose of strengthening and improving the health care system and the quality and availability of health care services, and partially compensating hospitals for the cost of uncompensated care that they have.  The amount of the grants shall be calculated based on the number of licensed beds of the hospitals and long-term care facilities.  Hospitals eligible for grants under the program include licensed specialty hospitals that are recognized as such by the department.

     SECTION 2.  During fiscal year 2024, the State Fiscal Officer shall transfer the sum of Seventy-seven Million Dollars ($77,000,000.00) from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Lost Revenue Fund.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.