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.
SB 1149 establishes the Athletic Trainers Compact, creating a multi-state agreement to allow athletic trainers licensed in one participating state to practice in other compact states without needing separate licenses. This bill directly affects licensed athletic trainers seeking to work across state lines and the states that adopt the compact. The key mechanism is mutual recognition of licenses among participating states, streamlining professional mobility. The bill is currently pending referral to the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee after initial readings.
HB 2283 allows patients to take certain medications in multidose containers home with them at hospital discharge, if ordered by a healthcare provider. This directly affects patients leaving hospitals and healthcare providers who must follow specific labeling rules. The bill requires medications like inhalers, creams, insulin pens, and eye drops to be labeled with the patient's name, medication details, and usage instructions by a pharmacist or nurse. It specifically prohibits sending controlled substances home, except for connected wearable delivery systems during transport under documented conditions. The law does not impose new licensing requirements on hospital pharmacies.
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.
