On March 16, 2026, Gov. Reeves signed HB 565, which requires group health plans to provide coverage for biomarker testing for a wide variety of purposes, including diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of an enrollee’s disease or condition. Coverage is required when biomarker testing is supported by medical and scientific evidence. In addition, the law requires insurers to provide specific written justifications if coverage for biomarker testing is denied and further specifies timeframes and procedures for plans that impose prior authorization or utilization review requirements. The new requirements, dubbed “Jill’s Law,” take effect on July 1, 2026.
Employers that sponsor fully insured group health plans in Mississippi should consult with their carriers and amend their plans as necessary to conform with the new legislation. ERISA self-insured group health plans are generally exempt from state insurance laws.
For the full text of the legislation, please see HB 565, Jill’s Law.