MS Hospital Emergency Grant Program; create to provide grants to hospitals having financial difficulties.

HB 131 establishes Mississippi's Hospital Emergency Grant Program within the State Department of Health to provide financial assistance to licensed Mississippi hospitals facing financial difficulties. The program offers grants to help hospitals maintain or upgrade facilities or retain staff, requiring hospitals to submit current financial audits to prove eligibility and use funds only for specified purposes. A dedicated Hospital Emergency Grant Fund, funded by state appropriations, federal money, or donations, will be managed by the Department of Health with unspent balances carrying over annually. The Department must annually report to the legislature on each grant's recipient, amount, terms, and how funds were used for facilities or staff.