Bill > HB367

This bill creates a new section of Mississippi law that defines and regulates the transfer of patients from rural hospitals to major hospitals when a doctor determines such a transfer is medically necessary. The bill specifically defines "rural hospitals" as licensed Mississippi hospitals with 50 or fewer general acute, nonspecialty beds, and "major hospitals" as those with more than 50 such beds. It mandates that a patient must be admitted to a major hospital's emergency room if the rural hospital's doctor deems the transfer medically necessary. The State Department of Health is required to establish rules determining what constitutes a medically necessary transfer, taking into account factors such as potential health disparities between rural and major hospitals, chronic and emergency conditions that might be better treated at major hospitals, and transfer procedures that ensure the most efficient and best possible health outcomes for patients. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, potentially helping to improve healthcare access and quality for patients in rural Mississippi healthcare facilities by providing a clear framework for hospital transfers when specialized or more comprehensive medical care is needed.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0367.xml