Specialty Doctors to Rural Hospitals Grant Program; establish and provide eligibility.

HB 470 creates a grant program administered by Mississippi's Department of Health to help rural hospitals access specialty doctors when a major hospital redirects patients due to capacity issues. It directly affects rural hospitals with 50 or fewer general acute beds by providing funding to cover specialty doctor services during these emergencies. The program’s funding distribution will consider hospital size, distance from major hospitals, local health demographics, and specific specialty needs. The Department of Health must establish payment rules and regulations for the program, which takes effect July 1, 2025. This is a concrete policy change to improve specialty care access in rural areas during critical hospital diversion scenarios.