The State Health Plan establishes criteria and standards for health-related activities which require Certificate of Need (CON) review in an effort to meet the priority health needs identified by the department.

These priority health needs are:

• Disease prevention, health protection, and health promotion
• Health care for specific populations, such as mothers, babies, the elderly, the indigent, the uninsured, and minorities
• Implementation of a statewide trauma system
• Health needs of persons with mental illness, alcohol/drug abuse problems, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and/or handicap
• Availability of adequate health manpower throughout the state
• Enhance capacity for response to public health emergencies, including acts of bioterrorism.

Section 41-7-191, Mississippi Code 1972 Annotated, as amended, requires Certificate of Need approval for the establishment, relocation, or expansion of health care facilities. The statute also requires CON approval for the acquisition or control of major medical equipment and for the change of ownership of defined health care facilities unless the facilities meet specific requirements.