HB 1894 prohibits health insurance plans and issuers from discriminating against healthcare providers based on their license type when determining participation or reimbursement. It requires equal reimbursement rates for the same service within a provider's scope of practice, while allowing varying rates based on quality measures. The bill applies to group health plans and individual insurance coverage but excludes physicians licensed under Chapter 334 of Missouri law. The Department of Commerce and Insurance will enforce these provisions, implementing federal nondiscrimination protections from Section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act.
HB 2368 prohibits AI developers and deployers in Missouri from advertising or representing artificial intelligence as a mental health professional or capable of providing therapy services. The bill directly affects companies or individuals creating or using AI systems in the state, requiring them to avoid misleading claims about AI's clinical capabilities. Violations would be enforced by the Missouri Attorney General under the state's consumer protection laws, with civil penalties of $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for subsequent violations. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading) and does not regulate AI use in mental health treatment itself, only advertising practices.
HB 2391 modifies Missouri law to expand prescribing authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APNs). It allows APNs with a board-certified controlled substance prescriptive authority to prescribe medications in Schedules III, IV, and V, and limited Schedule II (specifically hydrocodone for hospice patients). The bill requires APNs to either work under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician or qualify for an exemption from that requirement. It also prohibits APNs from prescribing controlled substances for themselves or family members and limits Schedule II/hydrocodone prescriptions to 120-hour supplies without refills. This directly affects APNs seeking greater prescribing independence within defined boundaries.
SB 884 would expand the scope of practice for optometrists by allowing them to use injectable medications and perform certain minor surgical procedures for specific eye conditions, such as treating dry eyes or removing small growths. This change would directly affect optometrists (eye care providers) and their patients who currently seek these treatments from ophthalmologists. The bill amends the existing optometry practice law to explicitly include these procedures under "certain purposes" defined by the legislation. As a proposed bill (prefiled but not yet enacted), it remains under review by the Senate committee.
HB 2067 expands the prescriptive authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Missouri. It allows APRNs with a certificate of prescriptive authority and under a collaborative practice agreement to prescribe medications in Schedules III, IV, and V of controlled substances, plus limited Schedule II drugs (like hydrocodone, hospice medications, and stimulants) with a 120-hour supply limit. The bill explicitly prohibits APRNs from prescribing controlled substances for sedation, anesthesia, or for their own use. These changes update Missouri’s rules for collaborative practice arrangements between physicians and APRNs.
HB 1650 creates a new "assistant physician" license category for medical graduates meeting specific criteria, including U.S. citizenship/legal residency, passing required USMLE steps, English proficiency, and completing postgraduate training. It allows these professionals to provide primary care only in medically underserved rural/urban areas or federally qualified health centers under physician supervision, with health insurers required to reimburse them equally for services compared to physician assistants or nurse practitioners. The bill also establishes licensing procedures, limits continuing education requirements to match physicians, and outlines a path to full physician licensure after 60 months of collaborative practice. This directly affects medical graduates seeking this license, healthcare facilities in underserved communities, and health insurance providers.
HB 2570 requires health insurers and health benefit plans (including MO HealthNet and Medicaid managed care) to pay for anesthesia services based on defined "anesthesia time" units without imposing time limits or restricting how that time is calculated. The bill prohibits insurers from setting arbitrary time caps on anesthesia payment or excluding all anesthesia time when determining reimbursement. It specifically affects anesthesia providers (like anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists) by mandating payment based on standardized time units and prevailing medical billing standards. The law passed as an emergency measure to ensure timely payment for these medically necessary services.
HB 1989 modifies Missouri law to expand prescribing authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). It allows APRNs with a certificate from the Missouri Board of Nursing to prescribe medications in Schedules III, IV, and V of controlled substances, and limited Schedule II drugs (like hydrocodone for hospice patients) in 120-hour supplies without refills. APRNs must either work under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician or qualify for an exemption from that requirement. This directly affects APRNs providing patient care in Missouri, particularly in settings where they previously faced restrictions on prescribing these medications.
HB 1717 would allow veterans aged 21+ with PTSD, major depression, substance use disorders, or end-of-life care needs to legally use psilocybin for therapeutic purposes under strict conditions. To qualify, veterans must enroll in a research study, provide physician documentation of their condition, identify a trained facilitator (a licensed mental health professional meeting specific criteria), and have psilocybin tested by a state-licensed lab. The bill prohibits state/local penalties for compliant use, requires a 150mg annual limit, and shields healthcare providers from professional discipline for participating. It also mandates a $2 million state grant for psilocybin research and annual reports on the program’s implementation. This bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet become law.
SB 1247 would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to select, issue orders for, and administer certain controlled substances during patient care. This directly affects CRNAs and their patients by expanding their scope of practice to include these specific medication-related actions without requiring physician oversight. The bill authorizes CRNAs to handle controlled substances like opioids or sedatives within their clinical responsibilities, as specified in the bill's language. This represents a concrete policy change to their professional authority, aligning their practice with current clinical standards.
