MS SB2713

Establishes the Delta Regional Health Authority as a governmental entity and political subdivision to serve 18 Mississippi Delta counties (Bolivar, Carroll, Coahoma, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Issaquena, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo).

Creates a 5-member organizational board (3 appointed by Governor, 2 by Lieutenant Governor) that transitions to an operational board of up to 11 members once community hospitals enter participation agreements; board members must have experience in business, fiscal affairs, or public health.

Allows community hospitals to participate through intergovernmental participation agreements, after which they are governed by the regional authority board rather than standard community hospital laws; participating hospitals retain licenses, Medicare/Medicaid numbers, and regulatory rights.

Grants the authority board expansive powers including ability to acquire/operate health care facilities, issue bonds, borrow funds, enter into joint ventures, and establish employee benefit programs; exempts authority consolidations and collaborations from state and federal antitrust laws.

Directs Division of Medicaid to create a supplemental payment program to support the Delta Regional Health Authority's essential services and operations; authority qualifies as nonstate governmental hospital for Medicaid purposes.