HB 186 reconstitutes Mississippi's Healthcare Coordinating Council, requiring it to develop a comprehensive preventive health care plan for the state. The council, made up of 15 appointed members including legislators, health experts, and community representatives, must report to the legislature by 2027 with specific goals like reducing infant mortality by 10% by 2035, increasing health insurance coverage by 25% by 2035, and lowering obesity rates to under 20% by 2030. The bill directly affects all Mississippi residents by setting measurable health objectives for state agencies to address maternal/child health, chronic disease, and access to care. It mandates the council analyze feasibility, costs, and benefits of each proposed strategy before making recommendations.
HB 1379, titled the "Mississippi Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care Protection Act," would authorize Mississippi Medicaid to make payments to a specific type of out-of-state pediatric hospital located on the Mississippi River border. The hospital must be university-affiliated, provide pediatric care exclusively for patients under 21 (with five specialty programs and 100+ beds), and qualify under federal CMS approval for increased funding. Payments would only occur if CMS approves a federal funding increase equal to the hospital's estimated annual cost, ensuring costs for Mississippi Medicaid beneficiaries under 21 do not exceed in-state hospital costs. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 224 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to cover adults under 65 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and children under 19 with family incomes between 133% and 200% FPL, aligning with federal Affordable Care Act and CHIP standards. The bill repeals existing Mississippi Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) rules (Sections 41-86-1 and 41-86-5 through 41-86-15) and modifies Medicaid eligibility categories to include these new groups. It directly affects low-income Mississippi residents who currently fall outside existing Medicaid coverage due to income thresholds. The policy change would extend health coverage to approximately 100,000 additional Mississippians, per federal guidelines. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
SB 2033 would restore Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient hospital services provided to children under 21 at a specific border city university-affiliated pediatric teaching hospital. It deletes a 2024 repeal that had ended this payment requirement, ensuring the hospital continues to receive state Medicaid funds for eligible pediatric care. This change directly affects the designated hospital and its patients, maintaining existing coverage without altering broader Medicaid rules. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and would not have changed other Medicaid reimbursement structures.
HB 885 requires Mississippi's newborn screening program to include testing for cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that can cause hearing loss and developmental delays in infants. This change affects all newborns in Mississippi by adding CMV to the list of conditions screened for at birth, alongside existing conditions like PKU and congenital hypothyroidism. The State Department of Health must implement this screening by July 1, 2026, to enable early detection and treatment. The bill expands routine newborn care to address a preventable cause of infant health complications.
