This bill requires Missouri's MO HealthNet program to cover childbirth education classes for eligible low-income individuals. It achieves this by updating existing state health insurance statutes to include payment for prenatal and childbirth preparation courses as a covered benefit. The changes directly impact pregnant women enrolled in the state's Medicaid program by ensuring their insurance plans pay for these educational services. The legislation modifies current payment rules to explicitly allow reimbursement for these classes without adding new funding requirements.
SB 1454 - This act modifies current law on the use of investigational drugs and devices for individuals with terminal illnesses to include those individuals with life-threatening or severely debilitating conditions or illnesses. Currently, investigational drugs shall not include Schedule I controlled substances. This act repeals that prohibition. This act is substantially similar to provisions in SB 1682 (2026, SCS/SB 90 (2025), SB 1767 (2026), SCS/HCS/HBs 1717 & 1643 (2026), SCS/HS/HCS/HBs 3068 & 3049 (2026), and SCS/SB 768 (2024). SARAH HASKINS
This bill encourages the Missouri House of Representatives to promote screening and treatment for chronic kidney disease, which often goes undiagnosed and increases risks for heart attacks and strokes. It directs state health officials to explore public-private partnerships for educating patients and providers about urine tests that can detect early kidney damage, while also urging federal agencies to update guidelines for better cardiovascular-kidney screening access. The legislation focuses on improving early identification in primary care settings, particularly for at-risk groups like those with diabetes or hypertension, to slow disease progression and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
SB 1519 - This act establishes the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact ("Compact"), which allows for the interstate practice of respiratory therapy. The Compact sets forth the requirements to be met in order for a state to join and maintain membership in the Compact. Additionally, the Compact provides the requirements for a respiratory therapist to obtain and exercise the ability to practice in the remote participating states. The compact privilege of a licensee shall be valid until the expiration or revocation of the home state license. The Compact further provides that a respiratory therapist with compact privilege shall function within the scope of practice of the remote participating state. Respiratory therapists shall also be subject to that remote state's regulatory authority, which has the authority to impose adverse action on licenses issued by that state. A member state may also participate with other member states in joint investigations of a licensee. Participating states shall report licensure data along with any adverse action and significant investigative information to the data system established in the Compact. Additionally, the Compact creates the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission ("Commission"), which is a joint government agency of member states with the power to administer and implement the Compact. Each participating state shall be entitled to one commissioner, who shall be selected by the state's licensing authority for respiratory therapists and shall be an administrator or staff member of such authority. The Commission shall meet at least once a year. Additionally, there shall be an Executive Committee, composed of nine members, to act on behalf of the Commission, including on day-to-day activities related to the administration of the Compact. The Commission may levy and collect an annual assessment from each member state and impose fees on licensees to whom it grants compact privileges to cover the costs of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff. Member states and commissioners, officers, executive directors, employees, and agents of the Commission shall be immune from liability, both personally and in their official capacity, for any claim for damages arising out of any acts or omissions that occurred within the scope of the Commission's employment, duties, or responsibilities, except for those damages caused by intentional or willful or wanton misconduct. The procurement of insurance by the Commission shall not limit such immunity. For any actions by or against the Commission, venue is proper in a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located. Furthermore, the Compact shall come into effect on the date in which the seventh state enacts the Compact into law. Any participating state may withdraw from the Compact by repealing the Compact, but such withdrawal shall not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of the repeal. If a state defaults in the performance of its obligations or responsibilities under the Compact or its rules, the Commission, after notifying state officials and upon a majority vote of the Commission, may terminate membership of the defaulting state. Finally, the Compact shall be binding upon participating states and shall supersede any conflict with state law. KATIE O'BRIEN
SB 1448 - This act provides that when calculating an enrollee's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket max or any cost-sharing requirement under a health benefit plan, a health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall include any amounts paid by the enrollee or paid on behalf of the enrollee for any medication for which a generic substitute is not available. Additionally, no health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall design benefits in a manner that takes into account the availability of any cost-sharing assistance program for any medication for which a generic drug substitute is not available. The provisions of this act shall apply to health benefit plans entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after August 28, 2026. This act is identical to SB 1327 (2026), SB 970 (2026), SB 840 (2026), HB 1941 (2026), HB 1681 (2026), and HB 79 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in SCS/SB 970 (2026), HCS/HBs 1941, 2279, & 1681 (2026), SB 45 (2025), and similar to provisions in SB 187 (2025), SB 512 (2025), SB 1106 (2024), SB 844 (2024), SB 1190 (2024), HCS/HB 442 (2023), HB 1628 (2024), SB 269 (2023), and SB 1031 (2022). TAYLOR MIDDLETON
This bill establishes the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act, which classifies intoxicating hemp-derived products as marijuana and subjects them to the same regulations as traditional marijuana under Missouri state law. It creates new protections for medical marijuana patients by prohibiting state agencies from sharing their personally identifying information with the federal government without a court order, and it requires dispensaries to delete consumer records upon request. The legislation also restricts the use of the word "dispensary" in business names to only licensed marijuana facilities and imposes fines for violations of these new rules.
This bill requires health insurance plans in Missouri to cover nonopioid pain medications without discrimination when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional for acute pain. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage for nonopioid drugs in favor of opioids, forcing patients to try opioids first, or charging higher copays for nonopioid options. The law applies to all health benefit plans issued or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2027.
This bill modifies how human embryos created through assisted reproductive technology are legally defined, excluding them from the definition of "unborn child" before they are implanted in a uterus. It also requires most health benefit plans that cover pregnancy-related services to include infertility diagnosis and treatment, with an exception for plans issued by or to religious institutions. These changes directly affect fertility clinics, insurance providers, and individuals seeking reproductive care by clarifying legal protections for embryos and expanding coverage for infertility treatments.
SB 1630 establishes standardized procedures for healthcare providers to report specific non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes or heart disease) to public health authorities. This bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities that treat these conditions by requiring them to submit data through a new, uniform reporting system. The key mechanism creates a defined process for collecting and sharing health data to improve disease tracking and public health responses. The bill is currently pending review by the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee.
HB 3499 expands pharmacists' scope of practice by allowing them to provide medication therapy services for influenza, group A strep, and COVID-19 under statewide orders from health authorities. It also permits pharmacists to prescribe certain medical devices (like home health equipment classified by the FDA as Class I or II) that meet specific criteria for medical use at home. The bill requires the state pharmacy board and healing arts board to jointly create implementing rules within six months. This directly affects pharmacists, enabling them to offer these additional services and prescriptions without direct physician oversight for these specific conditions and devices.
