Health insurers; require to use certain standard for hospital inpatient admissions.

HB 97 requires health insurers operating in Mississippi to follow Medicare's "Two-Midnight Rule" when deciding if a hospital stay is necessary. This means insurers must approve inpatient admissions only if a patient is expected to stay overnight twice (e.g., admitted one evening and staying through the next midnight), aligning their standards with Medicare. The bill applies to all health insurers licensed by Mississippi’s Insurance Department. It aims to create consistency for hospitals, insurers, and patients in coverage decisions, with implementation scheduled for July 1, 2026.