Section 41-3-15.1 - Mississippi Center for Rural Health Innovation established; purpose; definition of "rural hospital"; areas of service provided; department to provide personnel and resources; department authorized to enter into contracts(1) The Mississippi Center for Rural Health Innovation is established within the Office of Rural Health of the State Department of Health. The purpose of the center is to provide services and resources to rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics and rural federally qualified health centers, including expert analysis, guidance, training opportunities and telehealth investment. For the purposes of this section, the term "rural hospital" means a licensed Mississippi hospital that:(a) Has fifty (50) or fewer licensed general acute, nonspecialty beds; or(b) Is located within the geographic boundaries of a municipality that has a population of less than seven thousand four hundred (7,400) people according to the 2010 U.S. Census.(2) The specific areas of service to be provided by the center shall be, at a minimum: (a) Expert consultation, including, but not limited to, detailed financial evaluation, service line assessment, contract review and transitional planning;(b) Telehealth innovation, including, but not limited to, telehealth expert consultation and telehealth development grants;(c) Business development training grants, including, but not limited to, billing specialist training grants and administrative development grants;(d) Peer support network services; and(e) Any other related services as determined by the State Board of Health.(3) The department shall provide personnel and resources as necessary to provide for the operation of the center, and shall be authorized to enter into contracts as necessary to carry out the purpose of the center.Added by Laws, 2020, ch. 388, HB 94,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2020.