SB 79 - This act provides that contracts for health care benefits, provided by a qualified membership organization, as such terms are defined in the act, to its members shall not be considered insurance under the laws of this state. A qualified membership organization providing a contract for health care benefits as specified in the act shall use the services of an entity permitted to provide health plan administration services, and shall agree in the contract with the administrator to be subject to processes for benefit determinations and claims payment procedures comparable to those required by law for health carriers and health benefit plans. Financial risk under the contracts may be reinsured as provided by law, and the contracts and related applications and renewal forms shall contain a notice they are not insurance and are not covered by the Missouri Insurance Guaranty Association, as specified in the act.
This act is identical to SB 925 (2024) and HB 2082 (2024), and similar to SS/SCS/SB 11 (2023) and HCS/HB 464 (2023).
ERIC VANDER WEERD
Statutes affected: Introduced (0769S.01):
376.1850
Senate Committee Minutes: SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SB 79
Sponsor: Gregory (21)
Hearing Date: 1/28/2025
COMMITTEE: Insurance and Banking
CHAIRMAN: Crawford
DATE REFERRED: 1/16/2025 DATE HEARING REQUESTED:
STAFF:
Barbara Mustoe
Scott Svagera
Eric Vander Weerd
WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:
Rob Monsees - Missouri Hospital Association
WITNESSES FOR:
Emily LeRoy - Missouri Farm Bureau
Ben Sanders - Farm Bureau of Tennessee
Sean Cornelius
Megan Richner
Ben Travlos - Missouri Soybean Association
Jacob Knaebel - Missouri Corn Growers Association
James Harris - F6A Action
Alfred Brandt - Missouri Dairy Products Association
Corry Coopman - Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Alayna Forck - Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives
WITNESSES AGAINST:
Hampton Williams - Missouri Insurance Coalition
Emily Kalmer - American Cancer Society/Cancer Action Network
Matthew Porter
Trent Watson - American Heart Association
Laura Turner - American Lung Association in Missouri
Shannon Cooper - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City