HB 142 establishes a licensing and regulatory system for professional midwives in Mississippi community settings. It requires midwives to obtain a license from the newly created State Board of Licensed Midwifery, defines their scope of practice (including pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care), and mandates that health insurance plans covering maternity care must also cover services provided by licensed midwives. The bill explicitly states that midwifery is a distinct profession separate from medicine and prohibits discriminatory language in health coverage plans regarding midwifery. It also creates oversight mechanisms, including mandatory board rules by 2027, confidentiality protections, and criminal penalties for violations.
HB 719 requires nurse practitioners to be present at every Mississippi county health department for at least one day weekly to provide free contraceptive supplies and prescriptions to anyone seeking them. This directly affects individuals accessing contraception at county health centers, including minors who are parents, married, have parental consent, or are referred by authorized providers. The bill amends state law to mandate this weekly service and expand access to contraceptive information and supplies under specific conditions. The legislation, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed.
HB 1030 allows nurse practitioners primarily responsible for a patient's care to sign Physician Orders for Sustaining Treatment (POST) forms, which direct end-of-life care decisions like CPR, treatment limits, antibiotics, and nutrition. Previously, only physicians could sign these forms, but this bill expands that authority to qualified nurse practitioners. The POST form standardizes patient preferences for critical care scenarios (e.g., "full treatment," "limited interventions," or "comfort measures") and must be reviewed annually. This change directly affects patients receiving end-of-life care, their families, and healthcare teams in Mississippi, streamlining decision-making for nurse practitioners managing patient care. The bill died in committee in February 2026.
HB 79, the "Mississippi Midwifery License Law," establishes a state licensing system for professional midwives practicing in community settings. It requires midwives to obtain a license from the newly created Mississippi State Board of Licensed Midwifery, defines their scope of practice (including antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care), and mandates that health insurance plans covering maternity benefits must also cover services provided by licensed midwives. The bill directly affects midwives seeking to practice legally, insurance companies, and patients seeking midwifery care, while exempting certified nurse midwives already regulated under separate medical licensing. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2565 proposed to remove the requirement for certified nurse midwives in Mississippi to have a written agreement with a physician to practice. Currently, Mississippi law mandates that certified nurse midwives must have such a collaborative agreement or protocol agreement with a physician. This change would have directly affected certified nurse midwives by granting them greater practice autonomy without physician oversight. The bill aimed to update the state's regulatory framework for midwifery services, aligning with broader trends in nurse practitioner scope-of-practice laws.
HB 178 would redirect unspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds from the previous fiscal year to cover education costs for individuals enrolled in nursing education programs as part of workforce training. It would also pay for child care expenses for these individuals while they are studying. The bill applies specifically to TANF recipients pursuing nursing education, using existing unspent funds rather than new appropriations. This policy change aims to support workforce development in nursing by reducing financial barriers for participants.
HB 418 removes a requirement for certified nurse midwives (CNMs) in Mississippi to have a written collaborative agreement with a physician to practice. The bill amends Mississippi law (Sections 73-15-5 and 73-15-20) to allow CNMs to practice as advanced practice registered nurses without needing such an agreement or physician protocol guidelines. This directly affects licensed CNMs who previously faced this administrative barrier. The key change simplifies their practice structure by eliminating mandatory written agreements with physicians, aligning with existing exceptions in the law for CNMs.
HB 40 would allow certified nurse practitioners (CNPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) in Mississippi to practice independently after completing 3,600 hours of experience, removing the requirement to maintain a collaborative relationship with a physician or dentist. It also permits these nurses to count hours worked before July 1, 2026, toward the 3,600-hour requirement. The bill amends multiple sections of Mississippi’s nursing law to update definitions, exempt these roles from physician collaboration rules, and align disciplinary procedures. This directly affects advanced practice nurses seeking greater autonomy in patient care. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026.)
HB 1389 establishes a licensure and regulatory system for professional midwives in Mississippi under the State Department of Health, creating a Midwifery Advisory Council to develop rules by July 2027. It requires health insurance plans covering maternity care to also cover services provided by licensed midwives within their scope of practice (same as physician services), prohibits discriminatory language about midwifery in coverage plans, and clarifies that midwifery is not considered medical practice. The bill directly affects licensed midwives (who must obtain a license to practice), healthcare insurers (required to cover midwifery services), and patients seeking community-based birth care. Key provisions include mandatory licensure, standardized scope of practice, confidentiality protections, and mechanisms to increase access to midwifery care in Mississippi communities.
HB 557 requires Mississippi health insurers to reimburse pharmacists at least the same rate they pay other non-physician healthcare providers for specific services within a pharmacist’s scope of practice (as defined in §73-21-73) that would otherwise be covered under a policy. This applies to all health insurance policies issued or renewed in Mississippi on or after January 1, 2027. The law ensures pharmacists receive equitable payment for services like medication therapy management or vaccinations that fall within their professional scope. It directly affects pharmacists providing covered services and insurers operating in Mississippi.
