Gov. Tate Reeves announced he has signed three bills that will strengthen hospitals and increase the pipeline of medical professionals in Mississippi.
Gov. Reeves signed House Bill 271 and Senate Bill 2372 which establishes the Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program and invests over $103 million into the program.
He also announced he signed Senate Bill 2371 which creates multiple grant programs to expand training programs for healthcare professionals across the state.
“These bills represent major wins for Mississippi’s healthcare system,” said Gov. Reeves. “Mississippians deserve access to high-quality healthcare options across the state. That’s why I signed these bills which help to strengthen hospitals across our state, ensure quality care is available for Mississippians, and dramatically expand efforts to retain and attract new medical professionals. We’ll continue making investments into a healthier Mississippi.”
The funds aim to improve and preserve access to Mississippi hospital care services for Mississippians across the state. House Bill 271 appropriates $103.7 million to the newly created Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program at the Department of Health.
Senate Bill 2372 establishes the formula by which these dollars are made available to hospitals across Mississippi and tasks the Department of Health with distributing the grants.
The bills will make direct investments into hospitals across the state to strengthen the financial bottom-lines of these institutions and help ensure continued care opportunities for Mississippians.
Senate Bill 2371 establishes programs at the Office of Workforce Development, or Accelerate Mississippi, to strengthen medical professional retention efforts and to better develop the emerging pipeline of new nurses and other professionals into the medical field across the state.
It establishes the Accelerate Mississippi Nursing/Allied Health Grant Program aimed at increasing the capacity of nursing and Allied Health training programs.
It also establishes the Accelerate Mississippi Physician Residency and Fellowship Start-Up Grant Program aimed at creating new or increasing capacity in physician residency and fellowship programs at hospitals.
Finally, it establishes the Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program which will support the hiring of professionals who can help guide students through career opportunities and help to retain nurses and other students in the medical field.
