HB 1951, the "Missouri Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act," requires all Missouri hospitals, clinics, and health care facilities providing perinatal care (pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care) to implement evidence-based implicit bias training for staff. The training must cover identifying unconscious biases, understanding historical oppression of minority groups, cultural competency, health inequities, and reproductive justice, with initial training and biennial refreshers required. The bill also mandates the state health department to track and publish every three years data on severe maternal morbidity (like hemorrhage or preeclampsia) and pregnancy-related deaths, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and geographic region. This directly affects health care providers and facilities serving pregnant individuals across Missouri.
HB 1783 allows Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services to directly contract with Missouri-affiliated public health organizations (like national associations or institutes) to help deliver health services and manage grant programs across the state. The bill requires these contracted organizations to provide the state legislature with an annual report detailing how funds were used and including service improvement suggestions. This directly affects the Department of Health, the contracted public health organizations, and Missouri residents receiving health services. The key provision is creating a formal mechanism for the state to partner with external public health entities while adding transparency through annual reporting.
HB 2557 requires hospitals with emergency departments to have a physician physically present and on duty at all times when the emergency department is open. This bill directly affects hospitals operating emergency services by mandating continuous on-site physician coverage. The key provision specifies that a physician must be responsible for the emergency department during all operational hours, without exceptions. This policy change aims to establish consistent staffing standards for emergency care, though it does not address other hospital resources or patient outcomes.
HB 2464 establishes the "Missouri Terminally Ill Patient Dignity and Care Act," requiring hospitals to provide specific care standards for patients certified by a physician as terminally ill (expected to die within six months). Key provisions mandate timely pain management, a 30-minute response time to patient requests for assistance (unless clinically justified), documented care protocols, and access to a terminal care ombudsman to address complaints. Hospitals must track response times, investigate neglect complaints, and report annually to the Department of Health, with penalties including civil fines up to $5,000 per violation or license suspension for noncompliance. The law directly affects terminally ill patients in Missouri hospitals and takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 2294, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers at abortion facilities to provide immediate medical care and hospital transfer to any infant born alive during or after an abortion or attempted abortion. The bill mandates providers to exercise the same professional care for such infants as they would for any newborn, and failure to report violations could result in criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fine). It also establishes civil liability for causing death or failing to follow care protocols, allowing victims’ families to pursue lawsuits for injuries or wrongful death. The law directly affects healthcare providers at abortion facilities, patients who undergo abortions, and families of infants born alive during abortion procedures.
SB 979 expands prescribing authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Missouri under specific conditions. It allows certified APRNs (excluding nurse anesthetists) to prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and limited Schedule II medications (like hydrocodone, hospice medications, and behavioral health stimulants) through written agreements with collaborating physicians. The bill restricts APRN prescriptions for Schedule II drugs to a 120-hour supply without refill, prohibits self-prescribing, and requires clear patient disclosures about care coordination with a physician. These changes aim to clarify APRN scope of practice while maintaining physician oversight for controlled substances.
SB 1112 would remove sales tax on breast pump supplies, including items like bottles, shields, and storage containers. This exemption directly affects new mothers, caregivers, and families purchasing these essential products. The bill’s key provision is a specific tax exemption for these medical supplies, making them more affordable. Currently pending in the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee, it has not yet been enacted.
HB 2184 prohibits noncompete clauses in employment contracts between healthcare employers and licensed physicians, making any clause that restricts a physician’s ability to practice medicine in a specific geographic area after leaving a job unenforceable. This directly affects physicians who might otherwise face restrictions on where they can work following employment termination. The bill specifically bans these geographic and time-based restrictions while leaving other contract terms valid. It does not alter other employment terms but ensures physicians cannot be barred from practicing in a region after their employment ends.
HB 1850 updates Missouri's pharmacy auditing rules to protect pharmacies from unfair practices. It requires auditors (like insurance companies or pharmacy benefits managers) to give pharmacies 14 days' notice before on-site audits, involve licensed pharmacists for clinical reviews, and treat simple record-keeping mistakes as non-fraudulent. The bill allows pharmacies to correct minor errors within 30 days instead of facing penalties, and permits electronic prescriptions and digital records as valid proof. These changes directly affect Missouri-licensed pharmacies and the entities that audit their billing practices.
HB 1945 modifies Missouri's health care payment system for clinical pathology services under MO HealthNet (the state's Medicaid program). It requires MO HealthNet to pay hospital-based pathologists 30% of Medicare's rate for the "professional component" of their services (interpretation and diagnosis), with payments going directly to the hospital if the pathologist is employed there, or to the third-party provider if not. This affects hospitals, pathologists, and MO HealthNet patients by standardizing reimbursement for these diagnostic services. The bill also adds licensing requirements for drug distributors (section 338.333), but the primary focus is on pathology billing changes.
