Bill Text: MS HB910 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Infant Mortality Reduction Collaborative; create.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-04-23 - Approved by Governor [HB910 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB910-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Medicaid
By: Representative Barker
House Bill 910
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LICENSED PHARMACISTS TO COMPOUND FOR INDIVIDUAL PREGNANT MEDICAID RECIPIENTS AND OTHER WOMEN A STERILE WEEKLY INJECTABLE HORMONAL SUPPLEMENT THAT IS USED TO PREVENT PRETERM DELIVERIES IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND TO DISPENSE THE MEDICATION TO PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR PRETERM DELIVERY OR THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, UPON A VALID PRESCRIPTION FROM A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER FOR THAT MEDICATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the costs associated with providing health services for Medicaid populations continue to rise each year; and
WHEREAS, two major cost drivers of the current Medicaid program are associated with complications of preterm births; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi's infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the nation, with a rate of 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013, while the national average is 5.9 per 1,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, the infant mortality rate is ten times higher for preterm births compared to term births; and
WHEREAS, premature babies who do survive will likely require specialized medical care and face long-term health problems, increasing the financial burden of providing Medicaid health services; and
WHEREAS, since half of the births in Mississippi are paid for by the state Medicaid program, improving birth outcomes could result in significant cost savings to the state; and
WHEREAS, infant mortality rate, low birth weight births and the percentage of live births delivered before 37 weeks gestation are stated benchmarks in Building Better Mississippi, Mississippi's statewide strategic plan;
WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that reducing the number of preterm births is in the long-term, strategic interest of the Division of Medicaid and the State of Mississippi; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. In order to make the medication more readily available and less costly for pregnant Medicaid recipients and other women, any pharmacist licensed to practice in Mississippi is authorized to compound for individual patients a sterile weekly injectable hormonal supplement that is used to prevent preterm deliveries in pregnant women, and to dispense the medication to pregnant women who are at a higher risk for preterm delivery or their health care providers, upon a valid prescription from a licensed health care practitioner for that medication.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
