MS HB1123

Amends Mississippi Code Section 43-13-131 to penalize hospitals that advertise emergency room wait times by reducing their Mississippi Hospital Access Program (MHAP) payments by 20 percent.

Defines "hospital" to include public or private institutions providing diagnosis, treatment, or care with overnight facilities, excluding physician offices, nursing facilities, state penal institutions, federal facilities, and university hospitals.

Specifies that "advertising" includes signs, displays, billboards, and similar public notices, but explicitly excludes information posted on a hospital's public website.

Requires the Division of Medicaid to redistribute any payment reductions from penalized hospitals to other hospitals using a method determined by the division.

Takes effect July 1, 2019.