HB233 • 2026

Rural hospital transfer to major hospital; prescribe certain conditions on such transfer when doctor deems medically necessary.

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 41-9-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PATIENT OF A RURAL HOSPITAL SHALL BE ADMITTED TO A MAJOR HOSPITAL WHEN A DOCTOR OF SUCH RURAL HOSPITAL DEEMS IT IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO TRANSFER SUCH PATIENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OF A MAJOR HOSPITAL; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL PRESCRIBE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT PROVIDE WHAT SITUATIONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED MEDICALLY NECESSARY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT MUST CONSIDER IN ADOPTING SUCH RULES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Scott
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it has no legal effect as of now.

Rural Hospital Patient Transfer to Major Hospitals

This bill allows patients at rural hospitals to be transferred to major hospitals if a doctor deems it medically necessary and requires the State Department of Health to set rules for such transfers.

What This Bill Does

Allows doctors in rural hospitals to transfer patients to major hospitals if they deem it medically necessary.
Requires the State Department of Health to establish rules defining what situations are considered medically necessary for patient transfers.

Who It Names or Affects

Patients in rural hospitals
Doctors who work at rural hospitals
The State Department of Health

Terms To Know

Rural hospital: A licensed Mississippi hospital with fifty (50) or fewer licensed general acute, nonspecialty beds.
Major hospital: A licensed Mississippi hospital with more than fifty (50) licensed general acute, nonspecialty beds.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and has no legal effect.
It does not specify what happens if a major hospital is far away from the rural hospital.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-07 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/07 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Rural hospital transfer to major hospital; prescribe certain conditions on such transfer when doctor deems medically necessary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 233 *HR43/R1261* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1261
PAGE 1 (RF\KP)

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

By: Representative Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 233

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 41-9-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PATIENT OF A RURAL HOSPITAL SHALL BE 2
ADMITTED TO A MAJOR HOSPITAL WHEN A DOCTOR OF SUCH RURAL HOSPITAL 3
DEEMS IT IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO TRANSFER SUCH PATIENT TO THE 4
EMERGENCY ROOM OF A MAJOR HOSPITAL; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE 5
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL PRESCRIBE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT 6
PROVIDE WHAT SITUATIONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED MEDICALLY NECESSARY IN 7
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT THE 8
DEPARTMENT MUST CONSIDER IN ADOPTING SUCH RULES; AND FOR RELATED 9
PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 12
41-9-20, Mississippi Code of 1972: 13
41-9-20. (1) For purposes of this section, the following 14
terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection: 15
(a) "Rural hospital" means a licensed Mississippi 16
hospital that has fifty (50) or fewer licensed general acute, 17
nonspecialty beds. 18
(b) "Major hospital" means a licensed Mississippi 19
hospital that has more than fifty (50) licensed general acute, 20
nonspecialty beds. 21
H. B. No. 233 *HR43/R1261* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1261
PAGE 2 (RF\KP)
ST: Rural hospital transfer to major hospital;
prescribe certain conditions on such transfer
when doctor deems medically necessary.
(2) A patient of a rural hospital shall be admitted to an 22
emergency room of a major hospital when a doctor of such rural 23
hospital deems it is medically necessary to transfer such patient 24
to the major hospital. 25
(3) The State Department of Health shall prescribe rules and 26
regulations that provide what situations shall be considered 27
medically necessary in compliance with this section. In adopting 28
such rules, the department shall consider the following: 29
(a) Disparities between a rural hospital and a major 30
hospital that could increase the patient's likelihood of having an 31
adverse health reaction if the patient stayed at the rural 32
hospital; 33
(b) Chronic conditions that may be better treated in 34
major hospitals; 35
(c) Emergency conditions that may be better treated in 36
major hospitals; 37
(d) Procedures for transfer that ensure efficiency and 38
the best possible health outcome for the patient. 39
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 40
and after July 1, 2026. 41