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HB220 • 2026

Hospice and Palliative Care Study and Advisory Committee Act; create.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE STUDY AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2026; TO PROVIDE THAT COMMITTEE SHALL BE DISSOLVED ON JULY 1, 2027, UNLESS REAUTHORIZED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Scoggin
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it is uncertain if any of its provisions will be implemented.

Hospice and Palliative Care Study Committee Act

This bill establishes a committee to study hospice and palliative care services, workforce issues, cost-saving measures, and end-of-life care for incarcerated individuals in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Hospice and Palliative Care Study and Advisory Committee.
  • Sets up rules for who can be on the committee and how they are chosen.
  • Requires the committee to study hospice and palliative care services, workforce shortages, access disparities, financial impact, and best practices for expanding access in rural areas.
  • Evaluates end-of-life care policies and standards for incarcerated individuals.
  • Needs the committee to give a report by December 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who work in hospice and palliative care.
  • The Mississippi State Senate and House of Representatives members.
  • Healthcare providers and correctional facilities.

Terms To Know

Hospice
Care that focuses on comfort for people with serious illnesses, near the end of life.
Palliative Care
Medical care aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in its session.
  • It is unclear if the committee will be reauthorized after July 1, 2027.
  • Details on how the committee members are chosen and what they do day-to-day are not provided.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-07 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/07 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Hospice and Palliative Care Study and Advisory Committee Act; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 220 *HR43/R58* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R58
PAGE 1 (RF\KP)

To: Public Health and Human
Services
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scoggin

HOUSE BILL NO. 220

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE STUDY AND 1
ADVISORY COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE; 2
TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE 3
TO SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT 4
GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE 5
COMMITTEES NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2026; TO PROVIDE THAT 6
COMMITTEE SHALL BE DISSOLVED ON JULY 1, 2027, UNLESS REAUTHORIZED 7
BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. (1) This section shall be known as the 10
"Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Study and Advisory 11
Committee Act." 12
(2) The purpose of this section is to establish a 13
committee to study and provide recommendations on hospice and 14
palliative care in Mississippi, including identifying gaps in 15
care, addressing workforce challenges, and improving end-of-life 16
care services. The committee shall assess cost-saving measures, 17
the impact of hospice care on reducing inpatient hospital visits, 18
and process improvements for end-of-life care for the incarcerated 19
population. 20
H. B. No. 220 *HR43/R58* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(2) (a) There is established the Hospice and Palliative 21
Care Study and Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as the 22
"committee"). 23
(b) The committee shall consist of thirteen (13) 24
members, as follows: 25
(i) Two (2) members of the Mississippi State 26
Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; 27
(ii) Two (2) members of the Mississippi House of 28
Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; 29
(iii) One (1) representative from the State 30
Department of Health; 31
(iv) One (1) representative from the Mississippi 32
Division of Medicaid; 33
(v) One (1) representative from the Mississippi 34
Department of Corrections; 35
(vi) Two (2) representatives from licensed hospice 36
and palliative care providers; 37
(vii) One (1) physician specializing in palliative 38
care or geriatric medicine; 39
(viii) One (1) registered nurse with hospice or 40
palliative care experience; 41
(ix) One (1) representative from the Mississippi 42
Hospital Association; and 43
(x) One (1) representative from a nonprofit health 44
care advocacy organization. 45
H. B. No. 220 *HR43/R58* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(c) The committee shall elect a chair and vice-chair 46
from its membership. 47
(d) Members shall serve without compensation but may be 48
reimbursed for travel expenses related to committee activities, 49
including mileage, as provided in Section 25-3-41, subject to 50
funds appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose. 51
(3) The committee shall: 52
(a) Conduct a comprehensive study on the state of 53
hospice and palliative care in Mississippi, including identifying 54
gaps in service delivery, workforce shortages, and access 55
disparities; 56
(b) Assess the financial impact of hospice and 57
palliative care services, focusing on cost savings through reduced 58
inpatient hospital visits and emergency room use; 59
(c) Evaluate care for the incarcerated population, 60
including policies, care standards, and coordination between 61
health care providers and correctional facilities; 62
(d) Identify best practices for expanding access to 63
care in rural and underserved communities; and 64
(e) Develop recommendations for process improvements, 65
training initiatives, and policy changes needed to enhance 66
end-of-life care in the state. 67
(4) (a) The committee shall submit a comprehensive report 68
to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the 69
H. B. No. 220 *HR43/R58* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Hospice and Palliative Care Study and
Advisory Committee Act; create.
House, and relevant legislative committees no later than December 70
1, 2026. 71
(b) The report shall include: 72
(i) Findings on current hospice and palliative 73
care service availability; 74
(ii) Cost-savings data related to reduced 75
inpatient hospital visits; 76
(iii) Identified service gaps and workforce needs; 77
(iv) Recommended policy changes for improved care, 78
including end-of-life care for the incarcerated population; and 79
(v) Legislative or administrative action 80
recommendations. 81
(5) The committee shall be dissolved on July 1, 2027, unless 82
reauthorized by the Legislature. 83
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 84
and after its passage. 85