(1) In order to encourage and facilitate collaboration between Mississippi Medicaid providers and managed care entities contracting on a capitated basis with the Division of Medicaid pursuant to Section 43-13-117(H), to align incentives in support of integrated and coordinated health care delivery, and to encourage the development of appropriate population or community health strategies to better serve Medicaid beneficiaries and the state’s health care delivery system as a whole, the Legislature hereby authorizes and encourages the creation of provider-sponsored health plans as defined in Section 83-5-603.

(2) Whereas, for the reasons stated in subsection (1), the authorization and development of provider-sponsored health plans as defined in Section 83-5-603 are vital to the continued delivery and improvement of health care in this state and otherwise in the best interests of the state and its citizens, and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a provider-sponsored health plan, and its owners, officers, directors, committee members, agents, representatives, and employees, when performing the functions authorized by this article, in carrying out the terms of any contract with or program of the Division of Medicaid, and in collaborating and communicating with hospitals, physicians, and other providers for such purposes, shall be considered to be acting pursuant to clearly expressed state policy as established in this article under the supervision of the State of Mississippi and shall be immune from liability under state or federal antitrust laws while so acting.