Healthcare

HB 25 appropriates $5,308,814 from special funds to the Mississippi Board of Nursing for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly funds the board’s operations, including $2.9 million for staff salaries and positions, $1.56 million for the Office of Nursing Workforce (administering nursing education programs), and $105,000 for the Prescription Monitoring Program. The bill specifies that funds must be used for authorized personnel costs and cannot replace federal funding, with strict rules to prevent exceeding budgeted amounts for salaries. It requires the board to maintain detailed financial records and aligns with existing programs like the Medical Cannabis Act implementation.

HB 27 appropriates $354,726 from state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy’s operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifically allocates $221,771 for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding), with strict rules prohibiting use for promotions, salary increases, or replacing federal funds. It requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records and ensures funds are used only within the authorized budget limits, including compliance with state personnel compensation rules.

HB 23 appropriates approximately $8.4 billion in state funds for Mississippi's Medicaid program during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $906 million from the General Fund, $842 million from the Medical Care Fund, and $6.6 billion from special funds to provide medical assistance to eligible residents and cover administrative costs under Mississippi's Medicaid Law. The bill also sets a strict $61.8 million cap on "Personal Services" funding (salaries, wages, and benefits) for Medicaid staff, requiring the agency to stay within this limit without exceeding previous year's appropriations. This funding directly supports Medicaid recipients and ensures the Division of Medicaid can operate within defined budgetary constraints.

HB 46 provides additional state funding for multiple agencies during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. It allocates specific amounts to cover existing costs, including $156,842 for the Attorney General's legal expenses related to ongoing cases (like Curtis Flowers v. State of Mississippi), $4.3 million for the Department of Corrections' medical program, $14 million for replacing an offender tracking system, and $27.4 million for the Department of Child Protective Services to cover increased operational costs. The bill directly affects state agencies by providing funds for legal fees, medical services, technology upgrades, and child welfare operations. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, and does not change existing laws or create new programs.

SB 2025 appropriates $4,154,101 in state funds for the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy to cover fiscal year 2026 expenses (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill allocates $2,799,541 specifically for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and fringe benefits), including $354,951 designated to fill existing vacancies without increasing headcount beyond 21 authorized positions. It requires the Board to meet strict performance targets, such as processing 100% of licenses within 10 business days and resolving 100% of complaints within six months. The funding includes safeguards to prevent exceeding budget limits, ensure salaries meet state minimums, and mandate annual reporting on performance metrics to the legislature.

SB 2026 appropriates $438.2 million from the state General Fund and $30.8 million from special funds for Mississippi's Department of Corrections during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill allocates specific funding to key areas including $122 million for medical services, $69.5 million for private prison contracts, and $144 million for personnel costs (salaries, benefits, and staffing positions). These funds directly support state correctional facilities like Parchman, South Mississippi Correctional, and community corrections programs, covering operational expenses and staffing for approximately 2,900 positions. As a funding measure, it does not change policy but authorizes financial resources for existing correctional operations.

HB 24 appropriates $4,657,022 from state special funds to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's State Board of Medical Licensure for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifically allocates $2,958,098 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits for employees), with strict limits on headcount (32 permanent positions) and prohibitions against using these funds for promotions or salary increases beyond established rates. It requires the board to meet performance targets like 100% online license renewals and resolving 90% of complaints within seven days, while mandating detailed financial reporting to the legislature. The funds cannot replace withdrawn federal funds or violate IRS reporting rules for contract employees.

This bill appropriates $189 million from Mississippi's general fund and $1.7 billion from patient/student fees and special funds to cover the University of Mississippi Medical Center's (UMMC) operating expenses for fiscal year 2026. It specifically allocates funds for UMMC's schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing), the Teaching Hospital, and designated programs including $2.17 million for rural physician scholarships, $4.75 million for the Cancer Institute, $595,000 for a tobacco center, and $1.35 million for children's abuse care facilities. The bill requires UMMC to provide detailed expenditure reports to the legislature and mandates that state agencies reimburse UMMC for services within 90 days or risk service discontinuation. It also prohibits using funds for embryo research and specifies how certain allocations (like scholarship programs) must be used.

SB 2024 provides $1.29 million in state funding to Mississippi's Board of Dental Examiners for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifically allocates $694,646 for staff salaries and benefits for the board’s 8 authorized positions, with strict rules preventing use for promotions or salary increases beyond budget limits. Additionally, $27,000 is designated for the Board of Pharmacy to support its Prescription Monitoring Program. This is a routine budget allocation for operational costs, not a new policy change.

SB 2016 is an appropriation bill that allocates $722.7 million (combined General Fund and special source funds) to Mississippi’s Department of Mental Health for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly affects the department’s operations by funding staff salaries, mental health services, and specific programs like crisis centers and fentanyl education. Key provisions restrict the funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and vacancy funding), prohibit using General Funds to replace federal funds, and require strict adherence to the Variable Compensation Plan. The bill mandates efficient use of funds to meet performance targets, such as reducing unmet community mental health care access. As a procedural funding measure, it does not create new policies but authorizes existing service delivery.