HB 129 Summary

• Amends Mississippi Code sections 41-105-1 and 41-105-3 to require the Healthcare Coordinating Council to develop and report to the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature on specified health goals for Mississippi.

• Establishes council membership of 15 members appointed by various state officials (Speaker of House, Lieutenant Governor, Governor) with specified terms ranging from 2 to 6 years, including legislators, state agency representatives, healthcare providers, nurses, nutritionists, health advocates, and healthcare consumers.

• Requires council to develop recommendations for a comprehensive preventive health care plan for July 1, 2010 through July 1, 2020, including performance benchmarks, projected costs, and benefits for each element.

• Mandates council consideration of specific health goals including maternal and child health (reduce infant mortality and low-birth weight by 10% by 2019), increase health insurance coverage by 25% by 2019, reduce obesity to below 20% by 2014, and increase high school graduation rate to 75% by 2014.

• Requires council members to be appointed by July 1, 2010, and first meeting to be called by July 1, 2010, with council to meet at least quarterly and make annual reports to the Legislature by September 1.