Rep. Melanie Stinnett

Maddy summaryHB 804 requires health insurance plans in Missouri to cover non-opioid pain medications when a patient has an "elevated risk of opioid misuse" (defined as having a substance use history, an advance directive limiting opioids, higher overdose risk, or medical contraindications to opioids). It prohibits insurers from denying coverage for non-opioid options, forcing patients to try opioids first, or charging higher copays for non-opioid drugs compared to opioids in these cases. The law applies to all health benefit plans issued, renewed, or continued on or after January 1, 2026. This directly affects patients with specific risk factors and their healthcare providers, ensuring equitable coverage for non-opioid pain treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Missouri law to allow health insurance providers to access specific HIV-related medical information for treatment, payment, and health care operations in compliance with federal privacy rules. It directly affects individuals with HIV status, health carriers, and public employees by clarifying when confidential test results can be shared without violating state privacy protections. The legislation removes previous restrictions that prevented such disclosures, ensuring that necessary medical data can flow between patients and their insurers while maintaining strict confidentiality for all other parties.

Maddy summaryHB 2867 requires health insurance companies in Missouri to inform participating healthcare providers at least 90 days in advance if they change their address, payer identification number, or other details needed to file reimbursement claims. If a carrier fails to provide this notice, it must immediately pay all claims submitted during the delay period along with one percent interest per day and a one percent penalty on each claim. The bill also establishes a process for providers to file complaints with the Department of Commerce and Insurance or sue in court to recover unpaid funds, with provisions for awarding attorney fees to either side depending on the outcome. This law applies to most health carriers but excludes MO HealthNet, though Medicaid managed care organizations are still subject to its requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2702 amends Missouri law to include medically necessary anti-obesity medications for all MO HealthNet participants, regardless of age. This change allows the state's Medicaid program to cover these drugs when prescribed by licensed physicians, dentists, podiatrists, or advanced practice registered nurses. The bill applies to individuals who qualify for MO HealthNet coverage, expanding the list of covered drugs beyond current limitations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates state laws to allow local governments, including cities, villages, and specific counties, to create ordinances for removing public nuisances on private property. These ordinances can target issues such as debris, overgrown vegetation, hazardous trees, unstacked lumber, and unsafe structures, with an additional provision for home rule cities over 400,000 people to address vacant buildings open to entry. The law requires officials to send written notice to property owners and occupants describing the nuisance and providing at least ten days to fix it, unless there is an immediate safety risk. If the owner fails to act, local officials can remove the nuisance and charge the cost to the property owner through a special tax bill or real estate tax bill, which becomes a lien on the property if unpaid.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal exemption for organizations registered with the Department of Health and Senior Services that distribute hypodermic needles or syringes as part of a syringe access program. To qualify for this protection, these entities must have a partnership with a mental health or substance use treatment provider and must not operate within 500 feet of a school building, unless the school was built after the program started. The law removes the risk of criminal charges for these registered groups and their staff when they provide needles to mitigate health risks associated with injection drug use.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Medicaid managed care organizations in Missouri from requiring prior authorization for ambulance transport of MO HealthNet participants between hospitals. The law directly affects these managed care organizations and the patients they serve by removing the administrative step of getting approval before arranging such transfers. Under the new rule, these organizations must allow the transportation to proceed without first obtaining permission, streamlining the process for emergency or necessary medical moves between facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the state calculates the "local effort" figures for school districts that receive certain specific tax revenues. If a district places money from intangible taxes, surcharges, or payments in lieu of taxes into teacher funds and this raises their local effort score, the state will instead pretend that money was put into capital or debt service funds for calculation purposes. This adjustment ensures that the state aid these districts receive after August 28, 2024, is based on a revised local effort figure that excludes those specific revenue sources. The change directly affects school districts in the state that utilize these particular funding streams and impacts how much state financial support they are eligible to receive.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new licensing requirement for facilities that provide specialized medical care to young children with complex health needs. It defines these "prescribed pediatric extended care facilities" as places offering skilled nursing and therapy services to eligible children under six years old within existing child care centers. The Department of Health and Senior Services will be responsible for issuing licenses, conducting inspections, and enforcing rules regarding staffing, safety, and sanitation. The law also establishes procedures for handling complaints, disciplining non-compliant providers, and coordinating with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding child care licenses.