House Bill 1291 Summary

• Amends Section 41-7-191 of Mississippi Code to add three new health services requiring Certificate of Need (CON) review: neonatal care services, obstetrical services, freestanding emergency care services, and hospice care services.

• Establishes that any person offering these newly regulated services without prior CON approval—if those services have not been provided on a regular basis by the provider within the 12 months prior to offering them—must obtain approval from the State Department of Health.

• Maintains existing CON requirements for major health care facility construction, bed capacity changes, relocation of services, acquisition of major medical equipment, and changes of ownership.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2014.