MS SB2689

Directs State Department of Health to transfer 98 licensed nursing facility beds from Hotel Reed Nursing Center in Hancock County: 40 beds to Stone County Housing and Rehabilitation Center in Stone County, 54 beds to the owner of Lamar County certificate of need R-0603, and 4 beds to Woodland Village Nursing Center in Hancock County.

Requires certificates of need for bed transfers to be issued within 10 working days of application submission, with automatic issuance by operation of law if deadline is missed.

Waives requirements for substantial compliance with State Health Plan projections and formal certificate of need hearing process for the Hancock County bed transfers.

Authorizes issuance of certificate of need for 36 additional skilled nursing facility beds in Lamar County (30 designated as Alzheimer's beds) to expand certificate of need R-0603 from 40 beds to 130 beds total.

Provides that certificate of need R-0603 is deemed valid and in full force, prohibiting the State Department of Health from revoking, abrogating, or dissolving it; allows full Medicaid participation with no restrictions on the transferred or new beds.