Mississippi House Bill HB175

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/23
• Refer: 1/4/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

CON; provide for exception to home health agency moratorium for certain hospice licensees.

Impact

The passage of HB175 will exempt the specified hospice agencies from the general constraints usually associated with obtaining CONs, primarily aimed at accelerating the delivery of home health care services. This modification can lead to the expansion of health care facilities that meet the necessary licensing standards. Furthermore, the bill's approval might lead to an increase in the availability of healthcare services for patients needing hospice care, especially in areas that are currently underserved. It balances regulatory oversight while ensuring timely access to care.

Summary

House Bill 175 is a legislative amendment to Section 41-7-191 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, aimed at modifying the moratorium on the issuance of Certificates of Need (CON) for home health agencies. This bill particularly allows the State Department of Health to issue up to five CONs to the recipients of five new hospice licenses, enhancing the capacity of home health services in Mississippi. The targeted support for the hospice licensees facilitates the provision of essential care to patients, implying a direct government intervention to address healthcare access issues related to hospice services.

Contention

There has been some debate surrounding the potential ramifications of easing the CON requirements. Supporters argue that streamlining the CON process for hospice services is crucial for addressing gaps in care and can enable faster responses to patient needs. Conversely, there may be concerns regarding the quality of care and service provision if regulatory barriers are lowered without sufficient oversight. Opponents of the bill may contend that this could lead to a proliferation of subpar providers taking advantage of the reduced regulatory oversight, emphasizing the need for maintaining stringent standards to ensure patient safety and care quality.