Miss. Code Ann. § 41-7-187

The State Department of Health is hereby authorized to develop and implement a statewide health certificate of need program. The State Department of Health is authorized and empowered to adopt by rule and regulation: (a) Criteria, standards and plans to be used in evaluating applications for certificates of need; (b) Effective standards to determine when a person, facility or organization must apply for a certificate of need; (c) Standards to determine when a change of ownership has occurred or will occur; and (d) Review procedures for conducting reviews of applications for certificates of need.