Senate Bill 2700 Summary

• Establishes licensure standards for Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers by the State Department of Health to serve three or more medically or technologically dependent children requiring complex medical care.

• PPEC centers must be licensed to operate in Mississippi; license fees are $20 per bed with minimum of $500 and maximum of $5,000 annually, with exemptions for county and municipally-operated centers.

• Authorizes Medicaid reimbursement for PPEC center services as a covered service for medically dependent or technologically dependent children with complex medical conditions.

• Directs the State Department of Health to issue a certificate of need to a nonprofit venture for a 60-bed skilled nursing facility to provide care for ventilator-dependent or medically-dependent pediatric patients, waiving standard review requirements.

• Requires criminal background screening and fingerprinting for PPEC personnel; allows administrative fines up to $500 per violation (maximum $5,000) and license denial, suspension, or revocation for violations.