HB 2618 establishes the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact" to allow licensed respiratory therapists from one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. It creates a "Compact Privilege" enabling therapists to work across state lines while preserving each state's authority to regulate licensure and protect public safety. The bill directly affects respiratory therapists, patients seeking care across state lines, and active military members or spouses who may need to relocate. Key mechanisms include requiring states to join a Commission data system for license verification, standardizing criminal background checks, and ensuring states maintain oversight of disciplinary actions. This aims to address workforce shortages and improve access to respiratory therapy services without altering existing state licensing standards.
HB 2581 mandates specific content for human sexuality education in public schools, directly affecting K-12 students and school districts. The bill requires medically accurate instruction covering abstinence as the preferred choice, STI prevention (including HIV/AIDS and HPV), contraception effectiveness, emotional consequences of teen sex, conflict management skills, legal responsibilities (like statutory rape), online safety, and sexual harassment/violence definitions. Crucially, it mandates for the 2026-27 school year and beyond the use of two specific videos: a high-definition fetal development ultrasound and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video showing human gestation. School boards must provide parental notification about curriculum content and allow opt-outs, while prohibiting abortion-related materials in instruction.
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.
SB 1230 creates a full-time dementia services coordinator position within Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services to directly support Missourians living with dementia and their caregivers. The coordinator will evaluate current dementia services, prevent duplication by coordinating resources across state agencies and community organizations, and use dementia-related data to improve public health outcomes and service delivery. Key duties include supporting dementia-specific staff training for agencies like law enforcement and health services, identifying grant opportunities to expand care, and streamlining state government services for residential, home-based, and community settings. The bill focuses on enhancing coordination and efficiency in dementia care without specifying new funding or eligibility changes.
HB 1701 requires public schools to include specific human growth and development instruction in health classes, directly affecting students in grades where such curriculum is taught. The bill mandates medically accurate content covering abstinence as the preferred choice for unmarried students, STD prevention (including HIV/AIDS and HPV), contraception effectiveness rates, emotional consequences of teen pregnancy, and skills for healthy relationships. It specifically requires schools to show two videos: a high-definition fetal development ultrasound and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video (or successor), both depicting early human development. The bill also requires parental notification about curriculum content and the right to opt children out, while prohibiting abortion-related materials or services in school instruction.
HB 2596 modifies rules for multi-employer self-insured health plans, which are arrangements offering health benefits to employees of two or more employers (or self-employed individuals) without full insurance backing. The bill requires these plans to maintain a minimum financial safety net - either three times their average monthly premium, $600,000, or two times their risk-based capital amount - depending on their experience. This directly affects staff leasing companies and multi-employer health plans that operate without a fully insured insurer. The changes aim to ensure these plans have sufficient funds to cover future claims.
HB 1968 prohibits licensed mental health professionals in Missouri from providing conversion therapy to minors. Conversion therapy is defined as any practice intended to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to alter behaviors or reduce attraction. The bill amends professional licensing laws to include this prohibition as grounds for disciplinary action, such as license denial or revocation. This directly affects mental health practitioners who work with minors and changes regulatory standards for their practice.
HB 2591 modifies Missouri's requirements for becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist. It adds a new requirement that applicants must complete a supervised clinical fellowship under a licensed speech-language pathologist after meeting educational and exam standards. The bill specifies that this fellowship period must follow the completion of a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited program and submission of equivalent coursework transcripts. Applicants with an audiology clinical doctoral degree are exempt from this fellowship requirement. The changes apply directly to individuals seeking licensure in this profession.
HB 1675 limits when health insurance companies (health carriers) can require doctors and hospitals (health care providers) to get prior authorization for medical services. Specifically, insurers cannot demand prior approval unless they approved less than 90% of similar requests from that provider in the previous six-month period (either January-June or July-December). The bill requires insurers to notify providers within 25 days after each period, provide appeal options, and maintain an online portal showing all authorization decisions. It applies to most health plans but excludes Medicaid managed care organizations and providers who haven’t participated in a plan for a full six-month period. The law does not change what services are covered or allow providers to exceed their licensed scope.
SB 1014 modifies the "Jason Flatt/Avery Reine Cantor Act" by repealing and changing existing provisions related to mental health support in public schools. The bill aims to adjust how schools implement mental health programs, though specific changes to the act's requirements are not detailed in the provided context. It affects public school districts and their mental health service delivery. The bill is currently in early committee review (S Education Committee) with no enacted provisions yet.
