Healthcare

HB 2582 requires applicants for Missouri's MO HealthNet program to verify they are not enrolled in another state's Medicaid program or a qualified health plan under the Affordable Care Act. It directly affects individuals seeking MO HealthNet benefits who currently have coverage elsewhere, including those relocating from other states. The bill mandates applicants provide a certificate of non-enrollment from their previous state program if applicable, and requires them to terminate that enrollment before MO HealthNet approval can be granted. This change adds a verification step to the application process without altering existing eligibility criteria for MO HealthNet.

HB 2287 expands prescribing authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in specific scenarios. It allows APRNs with a controlled substance prescriptive certificate to prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and limited Schedule II (hydrocodone) medications for hospice patients or those under designated mental health providers, with prescriptions capped at a 120-hour supply without refill. The bill requires written collaborative agreements between APRNs and physicians, including patient disclosure statements about seeing an APRN instead of a physician. It prohibits APRNs from prescribing for themselves or family members and maintains existing restrictions on Schedule II prescribing for sedation or anesthesia.