HB 3379 updates Missouri's laws protecting vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect in adult day care settings. It requires staff, healthcare workers, and others with reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect occurred to immediately report it to the Department of Health and Senior Services, with failure to report punishable as a misdemeanor. The bill defines key terms like "financial exploitation" and "neglect" and establishes penalties for concealment of abuse causing serious harm or death (a class E felony). This directly affects adult day care providers, their staff, and vulnerable participants (functionally impaired adults over 18).
HB 3509 prohibits licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists and counselors) from performing conversion therapy on minors. The bill defines conversion therapy as any practice seeking to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, excluding supportive counseling that accepts a minor’s identity or addresses unsafe behaviors without attempting change. This prohibition is added as a specific reason for disciplinary action against license holders under the state’s licensing regulations. The law directly affects minors receiving mental health services and licensed practitioners who may face penalties for violating this provision.
SB 1735 establishes Missouri's Sickle Cell Standing Committee within the Department of Health and Senior Services. The committee, composed of a physician chair, individuals with sickle cell disease, researchers, and representatives from health organizations, will assess sickle cell disease impacts in urban communities, examine existing services, and develop school education recommendations. It must hold public meetings in three urban regions, submit a final report to lawmakers and the governor by December 31, 2027, and continue annual meetings thereafter to track progress and update recommendations. This bill directly affects Missouri residents living with sickle cell disease and the state agencies managing related health services.
HB 3458 establishes an "Interstate Massage Compact" to allow licensed massage therapists to practice across participating states using a single license. Therapists would need to pass a nationally recognized exam (like the Massage and Bodywork Licensure Examination) and undergo background checks, with states sharing disciplinary records through a new Interstate Commission. The compact aims to increase therapist mobility, improve public safety through shared enforcement data, and support military families relocating between states. States retain full authority to regulate massage therapy within their borders under this agreement.
SB 1680 modifies Missouri's rules for SNAP (food stamp) eligibility for individuals convicted of felony offenses involving controlled substances. It allows these individuals to qualify for SNAP benefits if they meet four specific conditions: (1) participating in or completing an approved substance abuse treatment program, (2) complying with court and treatment obligations, (3) avoiding new substance-related offenses within one year, and (4) providing documented sobriety through voluntary urinalysis testing. The bill requires applicants to provide evidence of compliance to the Department of Social Services, which will work with the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to establish implementation rules. This change exempts eligible individuals from a federal disqualification that previously barred them from SNAP benefits after such convictions.
HB 3450 requires health insurance plans sold in the state to cover specific preventive health services without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for services rated A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, CDC-recommended vaccinations, and other preventive care outlined in federal guidelines from the Health Resources and Services Administration. This applies directly to health insurers and plans operating in the state, though it allows cost-sharing for out-of-network providers and makes exceptions for high-deductible health plans under federal rules. The law ties coverage requirements to current federal guidelines, with updates to be adopted by the state insurance director based on new federal recommendations.
HB 3169 requires Missouri's Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) to cover doula services for eligible pregnant women, including support during prenatal care, childbirth, and the postpartum year. It expands existing coverage by allowing doula attendance at scheduled cesarean sections and increasing covered support sessions from six to sixteen total. The bill also mandates that all private health insurance plans in Missouri must cover doula services starting January 1, 2027, with exceptions for supplemental policies like accident-only or short-term plans. This directly affects pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in MO HealthNet or private insurance, ensuring access to nonmedical support from trained doulas.
SB 1683 modifies Missouri's Medicaid (MO HealthNet) rules to clarify how the state recovers costs paid for beneficiaries' injuries or illnesses. It requires beneficiaries, their representatives, or estates to notify MO HealthNet when pursuing third-party claims (like insurance or accident lawsuits), and mandates repayment of MO HealthNet benefits from settlement proceeds within 60 days. The bill establishes a 3-year window for submitting subrogation claims and a 6-year enforcement period, while prohibiting third parties from denying claims due to minor administrative errors. Failure to cooperate with recovery efforts may result in loss of MO HealthNet eligibility. The policy directly affects MO HealthNet beneficiaries, their estates, and liable third parties (e.g., insurers, hospitals).
HB 3430 creates a permanent Sickle Cell Standing Committee within Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services. The committee, appointed by the department director, includes a physician chair, a person with sickle cell disease or a family member, a researcher, a community organization representative, a minority health expert, and specialized center representatives. It will assess sickle cell disease impacts in urban communities, examine existing services and gaps, develop school education recommendations, and gather public input through regional meetings. The committee must submit its first report to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2027, and continue annual reporting thereafter. This bill directly affects sickle cell disease patients, their families, and urban communities disproportionately impacted by the condition.
HB 3282 modifies Missouri law governing peer review committees in healthcare. The bill strengthens confidentiality for peer review proceedings - protecting interviews, reports, and deliberations from court discovery or testimony - unless a committee sues to revoke a provider's hospital privileges. It also grants immunity from civil liability to committee members and hospital leaders acting in good faith during quality reviews. These changes directly affect healthcare professionals, hospitals, and health maintenance organizations operating under Missouri's peer review system.
