Certificate of need; delete requirement to obtain for psychiatric hospitals, renal disease facilities and additional facilities.

SB 2685 removes a state approval requirement for specific mental health and specialized care facilities in Mississippi. Starting July 1, 2025, psychiatric hospitals, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and other licensed psychiatric/mental health services will no longer need state permission (a "certificate of need") to operate. This change eliminates the prior process where providers had to prove they hadn’t offered certain services regularly in the past 12 months. The bill directly affects these healthcare providers by simplifying their operational requirements.