Mississippi Certificate of Need Laws
Mississippi
Highly Restrictive
Year Enacted
1979
Services Regulated
7
National Rank
37 of 51
Top Systems
- University of Mississippi Medical Center
- Baptist Memorial Health Care
- Merit Health
Reform Status
States That Reformed
Key Case
No major case law on record.
Mississippi's CON laws have been in place since 1979. They regulate 7 different services, devices, and procedures. For 40 years, the state enforced a moratorium on new home health agencies, a policy so blatantly anti-competitive it took a federal court to strike it down.
2 Services Behind the Gate
- ✓Hospitals
- ✓Home Health Agencies
The Permission Process
The applicant bears the burden of proving the proposed service is necessary. The process allows for intervention from competitors, who can request administrative hearings to contest the application.
The decision showcases how incumbents can use the CON process to block new competitors from entering a market.
Incumbents retain significant power to block new entrants.
3 Systems. One Market.
Insurer Dominance
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi
- Learn about the history and impact of Certificate of Need laws across the United States.
Market share estimated based on available revenue and operational data.
In 2010, St. Dominic's Hospital sought to build a new $121 million hospital in Madison County, one of the fastest-growing and wealthiest counties in the state. The proposed facility would have brought new services and competition to an area dominated by existing providers.
Blocked, Denied, Upheld
A 40-year moratorium on home health agencies was only lifted by federal court order.
States That Reformed
Mississippi (No Substantive Reform)
States That Reformed
15 states have fully repealed their CON laws.
Studies show repeal leads to more hospitals and ASCs in rural areas.
Data sourced from The Rojas Report proprietary data extraction, state health departments, and public records.
Last updated: April 2026