Healthcare

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2971: Creates provisions relating to services for persons with disabilities

HB 2971 requires Missouri's MO HealthNet division to create a public dashboard for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (or their caregivers) to track application, review, and waiver status. It mandates a filterable provider directory for durable medical equipment, plain-language communications about waitlists, and quarterly guidance for case management entities. The bill also establishes a reporting system for incorrect waitlist information, with escalating penalties for repeated errors by service providers. These changes directly affect people seeking disability services through MO HealthNet and their families.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparency and accessibility improvements for disability healthcare services under MO HealthNet, enhancing patient access to waiver programs and medical equipment through dashboard tracking and plain-language communications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 3065: Modifies provisions relating to the requirements for collaborative practice arrangements between physicians and advanced practice registered nurses

HB 3065 modifies Missouri law to allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to administer, dispense, or prescribe certain medications under written agreements with physicians. It permits APRNs to prescribe controlled substances in Schedules III-V and Schedule II hydrocodone (with a 120-hour supply limit without refill), but excludes prescribing for sedation/anesthesia during procedures. The bill requires all agreements to include specific details like provider contact information, locations of practice, and a patient disclosure statement about seeing an APRN versus a physician. This directly affects APRNs, physicians, and patients in Missouri healthcare settings by expanding APRNs' prescribing authority within defined limits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands APRN prescribing authority for medications (including Schedules III-V and hydrocodone), improving patient access to care under physician agreements while strengthening healthcare delivery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Missouri · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 3129: Establishes the "Physician Assistant Licensure Compact"

HB 3129 creates a "Physician Assistant Licensure Compact" allowing PAs licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses, requires states to share license status and disciplinary actions through a centralized data system, and sets uniform requirements like passing national exams (e.g., NCCPA PANCE) and background checks. The bill directly affects PAs seeking to work across state lines, especially military families who relocate frequently, by reducing licensing barriers. States joining the compact must adopt these standards to maintain the system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state PA practice, removing licensing barriers to expand healthcare access for patients, directly supporting healthcare professional mobility and service availability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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vetoed · Missouri · House Jun 30, 2026

HB 2005: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Office of Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Conservation, the Department of Public Safety, and the Chief Executive's Office

HB 2005 is Missouri's fiscal year 2026-2027 state budget bill, allocating $3.33 million from the General Revenue Fund to fund specific state operations and programs for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directly provides funding for the Office of Administration's Commissioner's Office ($1.28M), the Office of Equal Opportunity ($481K), the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program ($1.47M), and the America 250 Missouri Commission ($100K). The bill also allocates $18.08 million for the Office of Administration's IT division, including $62.45 million from a dedicated technology trust fund for statewide IT systems and infrastructure. This is a routine funding measure that authorizes state departments to spend designated amounts for their operations and specific programs, with minor flexibility provisions allowing limited reallocation between budget categories.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3.33M to fund state programs including Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and Office of Equal Opportunity, directly supporting budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1.47M to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), a healthcare initiative targeting prescription drug abuse prevention and patient safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2821: Prohibits noncompete clauses in physician employment contracts

HB 2821 would prevent employers from including noncompete clauses in contracts with physicians that restrict where or when they can practice medicine after leaving a job. It directly affects physicians and healthcare employers who currently use such clauses in employment agreements. The key provision makes any geographic or time-based restriction on post-employment practice void and unenforceable, while leaving other contract terms valid. The bill is pending in the legislature after introduction in January 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits noncompete clauses limiting physician practice locations, improving patient access to care by increasing provider mobility.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits noncompete clauses restricting physician employment mobility, directly protecting workers' rights and employment standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2706: Instructs the department of social services to apply for a waiver to the USDA to allow SNAP to prioritize the purchase of healthy food and discourage the purchase of highly processed foods

HB 2706 directs Missouri's Department of Social Services to request a USDA waiver enabling the state to modify its SNAP program. The waiver would prioritize purchases of healthy, whole foods like fresh produce, lean proteins, dairy, whole grains, and legumes while discouraging highly processed foods and those high in added sugar. It also requires exploring strategies to incentivize SNAP participants to buy Missouri-grown fruits, vegetables, and dairy through existing state programs. This bill affects Missouri SNAP recipients and aims to reshape food purchasing within the federal program, pending USDA approval.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly promotes public health by incentivizing healthy SNAP purchases, aligning with healthcare policies targeting diet-related illness prevention through nutrition access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Missouri · House May 5, 2026

HB 2897: Provides that the practice of optometry shall include the use of injectable agents and surgical procedures for certain purposes

HB 2897 amends Missouri's optometry law to allow optometrists to prescribe and administer injectable medications and perform specific surgical procedures (such as certain laser treatments for eye conditions) that were previously excluded from their scope of practice. Optometrists who graduated before July 1, 2020, must complete a 32-hour certification program covering both theory and clinical training to perform these procedures, while those who graduated after that date are exempt. The bill maintains a list of excluded procedures, such as LASIK, corneal transplants, and most surgeries involving the retina or eye structure. This change expands access to certain eye care services under defined training and certification requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrists' scope to prescribe injectables/surgery, increasing patient access to eye care without specialist referrals, directly advancing healthcare delivery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2674: Creates provisions relating to mental health leave for employees

HB 2674 requires private Missouri employers to allow employees unpaid leave for at least one mental health appointment per week. It defines "mental health appointment" as visits under four hours with a provider for mental disorders, excluding public employers. Employees must provide 48 hours' notice (or certification after unscheduled absences), and employers may request sworn statements plus provider documentation - keeping all records confidential. The bill clarifies this leave cannot exceed federal FMLA limits and does not override existing policies offering more generous mental health benefits. Employers must annually inform employees of these rights.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates unpaid mental health leave for employees, expanding access to mental health services by requiring employer accommodations for appointments under defined parameters.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires private employers to provide unpaid mental health leave, expanding employee benefits and protecting workers' rights under labor standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Paid Leave Professional Licensing

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in committee · Missouri · House May 7, 2026

HB 2643: Establishes the "Hope for Missouri Patients Act"

HB 2643, the "Hope for Missouri Patients Act," creates a legal framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating conditions to access individualized investigational treatments based on their unique genetic profile. It directly affects eligible patients who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments, received a physician recommendation for personalized therapy, and provided written informed consent. Key provisions require facilities to comply with federal human subjects protections and define "individualized investigational treatment" as drugs or devices produced exclusively for a patient using their genomic data (excluding those derived from abortion or embryonic stem cells). The bill mandates specific consent documentation detailing treatment alternatives and potential outcomes, without authorizing new drugs or altering FDA approval processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables access to personalized investigational treatments for patients after FDA-approved options fail, expanding care access for severe conditions through legal framework and physician recommendations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2909: Requires instruction on human sexuality and development in schools

HB 2909 requires public schools to include specific human sexuality and development instruction for students, directly affecting K-12 students in the state. The bill mandates medically accurate lessons covering abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception effectiveness, emotional consequences of teen sex, conflict management, and online safety. Crucially, it requires schools to show two specific videos during instruction: a fetal development ultrasound and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video depicting human gestation. Parents must be notified of the curriculum content and can opt their child out of any portion of the instruction. The bill also prohibits school personnel from providing abortion-related materials or services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates comprehensive human sexuality education in K-12 curriculum, enhancing student health education programs with medically accurate content.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medically accurate health education on STDs, contraception, and emotional health, advancing public health programs through school curriculum.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly mandates 'online safety' instruction in curriculum, promoting digital safety awareness as part of digital rights education, aligning with supportive indicators for technology topics.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety Women's Health Online Safety

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