Rare diseases; establish Rare Disease Task Force and establish insurance coverage integrity for rare disease therapies.

SB 2529 establishes a Rare Disease Task Force in Mississippi to address barriers in accessing treatments for rare diseases. The Task Force, composed of patients, clinicians, researchers, insurers, and advocates, will identify gaps in care, evaluate insurance coverage practices, and recommend policy improvements. The bill directly prohibits health insurers from excluding rare disease therapies from coverage or using third-party financial aid to avoid coverage obligations. Annual reports from the Task Force to the legislature will detail findings on access trends and suggest actionable solutions.