In the eighth week of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Senate concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 2140, the Mississippi Prior Authorization Reform Act, which seeks to improve the process through which some medical procedures must be approved and certain medications are obtained.
Among the changes agreed upon qualified physicians of the same specialty should review prior authorization requests and appeals. “A health insurance issuer must ensure that all appeals are reviewed by a physician when the request is by a physician or a representative of a physician.” The amendment further states insurers should “Consider all known clinical aspects of the health care service under review, including, but not limited to, a review of all pertinent medical records provided to the health insurance issuer by the enrollee's health care professional or health care provider and any medical literature provided to the health insurance issuer by the health care professional or health care provider.”
The Senate passed House Concurrent Resolution 29, that sets a Joint Session of the Legislature Monday, February 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., to hear the State of the State address of Governor Tate Reeves.
Also passed was Senate Bill 2059, that defines for Mississippi Code biomass and bioenergy. Among the items listed as biomass are, “Harvest residues, including, without limitation, trees, or portions of harvested trees…. downed wood from extreme weather events or natural disasters and nonhazardous landscape or right-of-way trimmings and municipal trimmings.”
The Senate met a Monday, February 19, 2024, deadline for introduction of general bills and constitutional amendments. As of Friday, February 23, 2024, 1,076 bills were assigned to committees.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the Northwest Rankin High School Choir, along with director Antony Keeler, performed in the second-floor rotunda of the Capitol as part of Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann’s effort to allow students to showcase their talents, which allows lawmakers to slow down and reflect on what’s important.
Mississippi Valley State University President Jerryl Briggs Sr. addressed the Senate on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, “Mississippi Valley State Green and White Day.” The MVSU Valley Singers also performed in the Second Floor Rotunda, following the performance of Northwest Rankin High School Choir.
On Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Senator Chad McMahan led the Senate’s presentation of a proclamation honoring Tupelo resident Scott Burns, a former U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal and founder of the nonprofit veteran’s organization "7 Days for the Troops." Burns has helped veterans across the country, including in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.
On Thursday, February 22, 2024, Senator Chris Johnson led presentation of Senate Resolution 6, to legendary University of Southern Mississippi Baseball Coach Scott Berry, who upon his retirement, following 14 seasons at the helm of the baseball program, led the Golden Eagles to unprecedented levels of success as the team moved to the Sun Belt Conference.
The next deadline is March 5, 2024, for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the Senate.
