Bill > HB465

This bill establishes the Mississippi Tele-emergency Services Grant Program, administered by the State Department of Health, to promote rural emergency healthcare services through telehealth technologies. The program focuses on expanding access to emergency care in rural areas by creating electronic, two-way audio/visual communication networks between central emergency health centers (tele-emergency hubs) and remote hospital emergency departments. Eligible rural providers with limited emergency specialist resources can apply for grants by submitting a detailed narrative and budget that outlines their proposed telehealth network, identifies the tele-emergency hub and remote emergency department, and explains how they will use the funds. The grant program aims to improve healthcare services by expanding access to emergency consultations, which may include patient assessments, symptom interpretations, treatment supervision, and patient transfer coordination. The program has three main goals: expanding and coordinating healthcare services, improving healthcare provider training, and enhancing health information availability. The department can use up to 5% of program funds for administrative costs, and grant recipients must submit annual reports detailing how the funds were used and their impact on emergency services. The program is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0465.xml