House Bill 1498

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE COALITION TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AND PROPOSE A PLAN FOR ADDRESSING CANCER-RELATED ISSUES IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE TASK FORCE SHALL COMPLETE ITS PLAN FOR ADDRESSING CANCER-RELATED ISSUES IN THE STATE AND PRESENT THE PLAN, TOGETHER WITH ANY RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION, TO THE LEGISLATURE NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2025; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Comprehensive Cancer Care Coalition (MCCCC) Task Force to develop and propose a plan for addressing cancer-related issues in the state, using the following principles to guide the plan's development:

(a) Every person in the state must have an equally effective chance of receiving appropriate and timely health care of equal quality;

(b) Disparities should be considered for groups that experience a higher burden of illness, disability or mortality;

(c) Goals must address the cancer control continuum -primary prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship - with a health equity lens;

(d) Measures should be realistic and data driven; and

(e) Goals and objectives are developed in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines.

(2) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(a) Three (3) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, and three (3) members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(b) The Executive Director of the State Department of Health or his or her designee;

(d) A representative from the Insurance Department;

(e) A representative from the State Board of Pharmacy;

(f) A representative from the Governor's Office;

(g) A representative from the Office of Insurance of the Department of Finance and Administration;

(h) The director of the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Cancer Center and Research Institute or his or her designee;

(i) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Hospital Association or his or her designee;

(j) Two (2) physicians representing the Mississippi Oncology Society, one (1) of whom specializes in oncology and one (1) of whom specializes in hematology;

(k) A representative from the Mississippi Association of Health Plans;

(l) The Medical Director for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi;

(m) A representative from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(n) Three (3) advocacy representatives nominated by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society;

(o) Two (2) cancer survivors appointed by the Governor; and

(p) A representative from a hospice provider in the state appointed by the Speaker of the House.

(3) (a) Appointments to the task force shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. Within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor, the task force shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chair and a vice chair. The vice chair shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, and those notices shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(b) The task force shall meet at least once quarterly, and shall complete its plan for addressing cancer-related issues in the state and present the plan, together with any recommended legislation, to the Legislature not later than December 1, 2025, at which time the task force will be dissolved.

(4) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their service on the task force, but members of the task force who are not state employees may receive reimbursement for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41 to the extent that funds are available for that purpose.

(5) The State Department of Health shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the task force to perform its duties.

(6) To effectuate the purposes of this act, any department, division, board, bureau, committee, institution or agency of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, shall, at the request of the chairman of the task force, provide the facilities, assistance, information and data needed to enable the task force to carry out its duties.

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