Definitions

Definitions. For purposes of this chapter: 1. Small Community Hospital — a hospital, as defined in Miss. Code Ann. § 41-7-173, which is located: (a) in a county that does not contain a municipality whose population exceeds fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the 2020 decennial census, and that does not contain any portion of a municipality whose population exceeds fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the 2020 decennial census; or (b) within the region designated by the Mississippi State Department of Health as the Delta Public Health Region as of January 1, 2026. A Small Community Hospital does not include a licensed Rural Emergency Hospital designated by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 2. Delta Public Health Region — the public health region designated as such by the Mississippi State Department of Health as of January 1, 2026. 3. Main Building Campus — the main building campus of the Small Community Hospital as of January 1, 2026. 4. Five-Mile Radius — the area within five (5) miles of the main building campus of the Small Community Hospital. 5. General Exemption — an exemption from the requirement to obtain a Certificate of Need for an activity that would otherwise require a CON, issued under the governing statutes, limited to the Main Building Campus and the Five-Mile Radius. Page 73 — Mississippi State Department of Health 6. ESRD Exemption — an exemption to operate an end-stage renal disease facility issued to an eligible Small Community Hospital under the governing statutes. 7. Geriatric Psychiatric Unit Exemption — an exemption to operate a geriatric psychiatric unit issued to any Small Community Hospital under the governing statutes, limited to the Main Building Campus and the Five-Mile Radius.