This bill establishes the Delta Regional Health Authority, a new governmental entity designed to address healthcare challenges in the Mississippi Delta region. The bill creates a framework for community hospitals to participate in a regional health authority with significant operational flexibility. The authority will be governed by a board initially appointed by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, with the ability to expand to include representatives from participating hospitals. The primary goals include maintaining essential health services, retaining healthcare workforce, achieving financial sustainability, and improving healthcare access in rural and medically underserved areas. The regional health authority will have broad powers, including the ability to develop strategic plans, acquire and operate healthcare facilities, enter into contracts, borrow money, and collaborate with other healthcare providers. Importantly, the bill provides state action immunity from antitrust laws for the authority’s consolidation and collaboration efforts, recognizing the unique healthcare challenges in the Mississippi Delta region. The authority is explicitly defined as a governmental entity and political subdivision, with provisions for participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement System and a specific mandate from the Mississippi Division of Medicaid to create a supplemental payment program to support its operations. The bill aims to create a more flexible, responsive healthcare system that can adapt to changing healthcare environments while maintaining a public mission of serving medically underserved populations.