Medicaid; exempt Medicare-certified long-term acute hospitals from hospital assessment.

HB 1554 would exempt Medicare-certified long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) from Mississippi's Medicaid hospital assessment. These specialized hospitals, which provide extended care for critically ill patients, would no longer be required to pay this state fee under the Medicaid program. The exemption would apply only after approval from federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Currently, similar exemptions exist for VA facilities, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and other specific providers. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.