MS HB1067

Vendors and entities receiving funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program (Public Law No. 119-21) must be selected through a competitive bidding process under Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13(c), with emergency purchase exceptions and other bidding exemptions prohibited

Subgrantees receiving goods or services through grant programs funded by the Rural Health Transformation Program and administered by public agencies are exempt from the competitive bidding requirement

Priority for subgrantee selection must be given to entities in super rural zip codes, Health Professional Shortage Areas, counties with high maternal/infant mortality rates, counties with per capita incomes at or below $45,000, and areas lacking hospital presence or outside metropolitan statistical areas

Subgrantees that have not received direct state or federal appropriations for medical equipment or capital expenditures in the past five years receive priority for grant awards involving such expenditures

Agencies awarding Rural Health Transformation Program funds must provide quarterly reports to the Legislature on funds awarded to subgrantees and all other program expenditures