Mississippi To Update Comprehensive State Health Plan Used To Gauge Future Demand, Focus On Rural Health Systems

The Mississippi State Department of Health plans to update its comprehensive health plan, which the state and other stakeholders use to assess upcoming demand for health care services, current capacity to meet demand, and the structure of the state’s public health and health care system. The updated plan will also provide a data-driven, third-party assessment of Mississippi’s rural health care system, identifying access gaps, workforce needs, and challenges to system sustainability.

The plan will update the 2022 State Health Assessment (SHA) and the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) to ensure continuity and evolution of long-term, statewide health planning objectives that align with federal program objectives.

The State Health Plan establishes criteria and standards for health-related activities that require Certificate of Need (CON) review to meet the priority health needs identified by the department. The following activities require a CON approval: establishment, relocation, or expansion of health care facilities; acquisition or control of major medical equipment; and for the change of ownership of defined health care facilities unless the facilities meet specific requirements.

The state released a request for proposals (RFP 3120003230) on December 19, 2025, with responses due by January 13, 2026. The contract is anticipated to begin February 5, 2026, and run through September 30, 2027. No estimated budget is stated for this RFP.

“The goal of this project is to develop and publish a statewide planning document that provides a data-driven, forward-looking assessment of the health of Mississippians and the capacity, structure, and projected needs of the state’s public health and healthcare systems,” according to the RFP.

The RFP is available for download from the OPEN MINDS Government RFP & Contract Database at no charge to OPEN MINDS Circle subscribers.

The fiscal year 2022 Mississippi State Health Plan can be viewed online (accessed December 26, 2025).

For more information about the RFP, contact: Dorthy Young, Assistant Senior Deputy Director, Office of Procurement, Mississippi State Department of Health, 570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39216; 601-576-7954; Email: dorthy.young@msdh.ms.gov; Website: https://msdh.ms.gov/

For more information about the program, contact: Mississippi State Department of Health, 570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39216; 866‑458-4948; Email: info@msdh.ms.gov; Website: https://msdh.ms.gov/page/19,0,184.html