MississippiSB 24742026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Rare Disease Task Force; establish within the Mississippi Rare Disease Advisory Council.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Rare-disease coverage oversight and complaints

The Department of Insurance must work with the council and task force to watch for coverage barriers to rare-disease treatments. The council can take written complaints about alternative funding programs and must send valid ones to the Department of Insurance to investigate. Each year by December 1, the task force and the department send state leaders a report with findings, coverage trends, how often alternative funding is used, and recommended actions. These oversight and reporting rules start July 1, 2026.

More service options at small hospitals

A “small community hospital” is one in a county with no city over 15,000 people (2020 census) or in the Delta Public Health Region as of January 1, 2026. Rural Emergency Hospitals are not included. Qualifying hospitals can get license or certificate-of-need exemptions to add services only on the main campus as it existed on January 1, 2026, and within five miles. They can add a geriatric psychiatric unit under a license exemption. Up to eight dialysis facilities can be approved statewide for these hospitals, with no more than two per public health region; the most remote applicants get priority when there are more than two. Exemptions do not cover off‑campus clinics, do not apply to services under a general moratorium, and cannot place a hospital within 35 miles of another hospital or risk a critical access designation.

New Rare Disease Task Force to improve care

The law creates a Rare Disease Task Force inside the state’s advisory council. It is seven members: one picked by the Lieutenant Governor, one by the House Speaker, three by the Governor, one insurance professional picked by the council, and the council chair serves as chair. Members serve without pay but can be repaid for travel and other real costs if funds are available. The task force finds gaps in care and coverage, reviews alternative funding programs, and gives evidence-based advice to state leaders. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

Deadlines and finality for hospital exemptions

An exemption or license is tied to the named hospital and cannot be transferred unless the hospital itself is transferred. A small community hospital must apply by June 30, 2027, or it loses eligibility. The State Health Officer’s decision on an exemption is final and not reviewable in court. Anyone may ask for reconsideration within seven days; an informal hearing must be held 14 to 21 days after the original decision, with no discovery, and the officer may change or reaffirm the decision.

When these health changes start

The hospital pilot and certificate‑of‑need exemption section takes effect as soon as the law is passed. The rest of the act, including the Rare Disease Task Force and oversight rules, starts on July 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Hob Bryan
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Gillespie Isom
Affiliation unavailable
Justin L. Pope
Democratic • Senate
Sarita Simmons
Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 342 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 120 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 52 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 118 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/11/2026

Passed