Bill > HB449

This bill amends Section 41-7-191 of the Mississippi Code to provide an exception to the current moratorium on issuing Certificates of Need (CON) for home health agencies. Specifically, the bill allows the State Department of Health to issue up to five Certificates of Need to the recipients of five new hospice licenses, enabling these hospice providers to offer home health services under specific conditions. These services can be provided to: (a) patients of any age, with a particular focus on pediatric patients, (b) patients who were initially eligible for hospice services but later become ineligible and would otherwise need to be discharged from home health care, and (c) patients who are referred to a home health agency for palliative care but do not qualify for hospice services. Currently, the law restricts home health agencies from establishing new home offices or branch offices within existing healthcare facilities. The bill creates an exception to this restriction for these specific hospice licensees, effectively expanding their ability to provide home health services to a broader range of patients. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0449.xml