Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) on April 17 signed three bills that provide financial aid to hospitals and strengthen the state’s medical professional workforce pipeline.
House Bill 271 and Senate Bill 2327 establish and appropriate $103.7 million to the Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program, which aims to ensure access to quality hospital care services statewide. All hospitals licensed by Mississippi, except hospitals operated by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs and hospitals operated by the State Department of Mental Health, are eligible for program funds.
Additionally, Senate Bill 2371 directs funding to numerous health care worker training and retention efforts, including the Accelerate Mississippi Physician Residency and Fellowship Start-Up Grant Program, which will increase capacity in physician residency and fellowship programs at hospitals. The legislation also establishes the Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program, which will help retain nursing students and other students in the medical field.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
