MississippiHB 16222026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Small Community Hospital Pilot Program; establish.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Faster ICU and isolation room builds

Hospitals can build or expand intensive care units, negative pressure rooms, and isolation rooms without a certificate of need. The law waives the usual projection and hearing steps for these projects. This speeds up critical care and infection‑control space.

New 25-bed hospital in Kemper

The State Department of Health issues a certificate of need for an acute care hospital in Kemper County with up to 25 beds, named John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital. The usual projection and hearing steps do not apply to this project. The new hospital can serve Medicaid patients. The Department gives priority to a hospital located in Lauderdale County that has 215 beds.

UMMC projects get academic CON relief

UMMC does not need a certificate of need for beds, services, facilities, or equipment already approved and continuously operated under a teaching‑hospital exemption, or approved/applied for before February 4, 2026, as long as they are not moved. Beginning February 4, 2026, UMMC also has an academic exemption within a defined area of Jackson if the State Health Officer finds the project serves a meaningful academic function. Separately, UMMC can plan, build, and add or convert beds for clinical research units in Jackson without a CON.

More local care at small hospitals

The law creates a Small Community Hospital Pilot to grow services close to home. A qualifying hospital in a county with no town over 15,000 people, or in the Delta Region (as of January 1, 2026), can add services without the usual certificate-of-need in limited cases. Each hospital gets targeted exemptions only on its main campus as it existed on January 1, 2026, and within a five‑mile radius, and not for services under a statewide moratorium. Up to eight total dialysis facilities are allowed for these hospitals statewide, with no more than two per each of the four Public Health Regions; preference goes to hospitals farthest from existing dialysis units. The State Health Officer must also issue geriatric psychiatric unit licenses to these hospitals, limited to the same campus and five‑mile area. Exemptions and licenses are not transferable, and a hospital must apply by June 30, 2027 or lose eligibility. The act updates the CON statute so these pilot exceptions apply only as stated, and it bars projects that would place a licensed hospital within 35 miles of another or threaten critical access status.

Faster CON appeals with fee risk

The law speeds up and tightens certificate‑of‑need appeals. If an existing provider opposed a project, there is a 30‑day stay; no building, licenses, or federal certification can proceed until appeals end. Appeals (except home health) must be filed in 20 days, decided by the chancery court within 120 days on the record only, with a bond approved in five days; the Supreme Court also has a 120‑day review window. A license‑grant decision by the State Health Officer is final, with only a 7‑day window to ask for reconsideration and an informal hearing in 14–21 days. Starting July 1, 2026, if you appeal an approval and do not overturn it, you must repay the approved applicant’s reasonable attorney, consultant, and related appeal fees.

Easier health projects in two counties

Health-care projects in Issaquena and Humphreys Counties do not need a certificate of need. This does not allow opening a hospital within 35 miles of another licensed hospital. It also cannot be used if it would risk a hospital’s federal critical access status. Other core rules in the state’s CON law still apply.

MSU research MRI and cancer device

In Starkville, the State Department of Health issues any needed certificates so Mississippi State University and a selected provider can jointly get a linear accelerator and an MRI. Two‑thirds of the time is for MSU research and one‑third for the provider’s clinical care. The provider is chosen by an RFP approved by the state higher‑ed board. The usual projection‑of‑need rule is waived for this project.

Nursing homes can set Alzheimer’s beds

Nursing homes can reserve some of their existing beds only for residents with Alzheimer’s disease. This applies to beds the facility already has. It helps families find specialized care without adding new CON steps.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Sam Creekmore IV
House

Cosponsors

Kabir Karriem
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 410 • No: 1

House vote • 3/11/2026

Concurred in Amend From Senate

Yes: 119 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/5/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 52 • No: 0

House vote • 2/9/2026