MS HB1379

Authorizes the Division of Medicaid to make payments to a "border city university-affiliated pediatric teaching hospital" if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approves an increase in the annual provider payment initiative request equal to or greater than the estimated payment amount

Defines qualifying hospitals as out-of-state facilities located in cities bordering the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, with university affiliation, pediatric hospital licensure, at least five pediatric specialty training programs, and at least 100 beds dedicated to patients under age 21

Establishes the legislation as the "Mississippi Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care Protection Act"

Requires that payments to border city hospitals shall not exceed the cost of providing the same services at in-state hospitals and shall not reduce payments to any Mississippi hospital below what they would otherwise receive

Bases payment estimates on the hospital's prior year Mississippi managed care utilization data