Creates provisions relating to covenants not to compete involving physicians

HB 2979, the "Missouri Rural Doctors Act," restricts non-compete agreements between physicians and nonprofit healthcare employers. It limits such agreements to no more than 365 days and a 5-mile geographic radius around the physician's specific clinical facility, applying only to physicians providing direct patient care. The law does not apply to agreements with research university hospitals. This directly affects rural doctors and nonprofit clinics by preventing overly broad restrictions that could limit patient access to care. The bill aims to support physician mobility in underserved areas without banning non-competes entirely.