Bill > HB508

This bill requires the State Health Officer to develop a comprehensive program aimed at reducing health disparities among different gender and racial groups by 2031. The program will focus on key health priority areas including infant mortality, cancer screenings, HIV/AIDS, immunizations, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and accidental injuries and violence. The State Health Officer must conduct a statewide assessment using focus groups, surveys, and interviews to establish a baseline for measuring future interventions, and will partner with community-based organizations to develop measurable outcomes. The bill mandates that the State Health Officer contract with a local entity specializing in health disparities (providing up to $250,000 in funding) to help manage the planning process, develop criteria for selecting community partners, and create a community grant program to decrease health disparities. The State Health Officer is also required to coordinate with other state and federal initiatives, conduct biennial evaluations of the program, and submit reports to the Legislature detailing the program's activities, evaluation data, and outcomes. The program is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with the ultimate goal of systematically addressing and reducing health inequities across different demographic groups in Mississippi.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0508.xml