Senate Bill 2756 Summary

• Expands the Rural Health Availability Act to allow all hospitals in Mississippi (not just rural hospitals) to enter into cooperative agreements with other hospitals, subject to approval by the State Department of Health.

• Requires applicants to identify proprietary documents to the board, which shall be designated as trade secrets and protected from public disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act.

• Changes the approval standard for cooperative agreements from requiring non-overlapping service areas to allowing the department to approve agreements if benefits outweigh the reduction in competition, and adds new potential benefits including population health improvement and access for underserved populations.

• Requires the department to actively supervise approved agreements through biennial reporting, monitoring for compliance, and authority to seek modifications; allows revocation if agreements fail to meet requirements.

• Establishes that certificates of public advantage remain in effect until a department-approved separation plan is completed, and requires amendments to agreements to receive new certificates of public advantage before taking effect.