2013 Mississippi Code
Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 7 - HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE COMMISSIONS
HEALTH CARE CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAW OF 1979
§ 41-7-197 - Certificate of need; hearing before hearing officer; review

(1) The State Department of Health shall adopt and utilize procedures for conducting certificate of need reviews. Such procedures shall include, inter alia, the following: (a) written notification to the applicant; (b) written notification to health-care facilities in the same health service area as the proposed service; (c) written notification to other persons who prior to the receipt of the application have filed a formal notice of intent to provide the proposed services in the same service area; and (d) notification to members of the public who reside in the service area where the service is proposed, which may be provided through newspapers or public information channels.

(2) All notices provided shall include, inter alia, the following: (a) the proposed schedule for the review; (b) written notification of the period within which a public hearing during the course of the review may be requested in writing by one or more affected persons, such request to be made within twenty (20) days of said notification; and (c) the manner in which notification will be provided of the time and place of any hearing so requested. Any such hearing shall be conducted by a hearing officer designated by the State Department of Health. At such hearing, the hearing officer and any person affected by the proposal being reviewed may conduct reasonable questioning of persons who make relevant factual allegations concerning the proposal. The hearing officer shall require that all persons be sworn before they may offer any testimony at the hearing, and the hearing officer is authorized to administer oaths. Any person so choosing may be represented by counsel at the hearing. A record of the hearing shall be made, which shall consist of a transcript of all testimony received, all documents and other material introduced by any interested person, the staff report and recommendation and such other material as the hearing officer considers relevant, including his own recommendation, which he shall make within a reasonable period of time after the hearing is closed and after he has had an opportunity to review, study and analyze the evidence presented during the hearing. The completed record shall be certified to the State Health Officer, who shall consider only the record in making his decision, and shall not consider any evidence or material which is not included therein. All final decisions regarding the issuance of a certificate of need shall be made by the State Health Officer. The State Health Officer shall make his written findings and issue his order after reviewing said record. The findings and decision of the State Health Officer shall not be deferred to any later date, and any deferral shall result in an automatic order of disapproval.

(3) If review by the State Department of Health concerning the issuance of a certificate of need is not complete within the time specified by rule or regulation, which shall not, to the extent practicable, exceed ninety (90) days, the certificate of need shall not be granted. The proponent of the proposal may, within thirty (30) days, after the expiration of the specified time for review, commence such legal action as is necessary, in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County or in the chancery court of the county in which the new institutional health service is proposed to be provided, to compel the State Health Officer to issue written findings and written order approving or disapproving the proposal in question.