SPONSOR: Peters
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Health and Mental Health by a vote of 16 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Adminstrative by a vote of 9 to 0.
This bill modifies provisions relating to health care.
EXPEDITED PARTNER THERAPY (Section 191.648, RSMo)
The bill adds Trichomoniasis to the list of sexually transmitted diseases that if an individual is diagnosed with, a physician is allowed to treat the individual's sex partners without an intervening medical evaluation or professional prevention counseling. The bill also adds any other sexually transmitted infection designated as appropriate for expedited partner therapy by the Department of Health and Senior Services or recommended for expedited partner therapy in the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The bill expands the use of expedited partner therapy in such cases from physicians to health care professionals licensed under chapters 334 or 3335 authorized to prescribe medications.
SPECIALTY HOSPITALS (Section 192.2521)
This bill exempts "specialty hospitals", as defined in the bill, from certain provisions of law relating to forensic examinations for victims of sexual assault, provided that the specialty hospital has a policy for transfer of a victim to an appropriate hospital with an emergency department.
BLOOD TESTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN (Section 210.030)
The bill modifies provisions governing blood tests and maternal screening for pregnant women. Currently, pregnant women are asked to take a blood test at the time of the first prenatal examination, or no later than 20 days after the first prenatal examination, to screen for syphilis and hepatitis B, as well as any other treatable diseases and metabolic disorders as are prescribed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.
This bill requires an additional blood sample to be taken, with the woman's consent, at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and expands the list of diseases for screening to include hepatitis C and HIV. The bill also repeals a provision outlining the procedure for a later sample of a woman's blood in any area of the state designated as a syphilis outbreak area, and provides that if a woman tests positive for syphilis, hepatitis B or C, or HIV, or a combination thereof, the physician or person providing care must administer treatment in accordance with the most recent accepted medical practice to treat such diseases.
The bill repeals a reference to the Missouri Genetic Disease Advisory Committee, granting the Department the sole authority to make rules pertaining to these tests, provided that the tests are of the types approved or accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration. The bill also repeals a requirement that approved standard tests for these diseases must be made in a Department- approved laboratory.
SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES COVERAGE (Section 376.1240)
Beginning January 1, 2025, this bill requires any health benefit plan in Missouri to reimburse a health care provider or dispensing entity for the dispensing of a supply of self-administered hormonal contraceptives intended to last up to one year. The bill prohibits the coverage from being subject to any greater deductible or co- payment than other similar health care services provided by the health benefit plan.
MAMMOGRAPHY (Section 192.679)
The bill repeals provisions relating to required notice provided to patients upon their completion of a mammogram.
This bill is similar to HCS HB 2413 (2024).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that as it relates to the year supply of contraception, that this would create parity between persons on public health insurance and persons in employer-sponsored benefit plans. Additionally, there are many issues particularly around transportation access for rural or impoverished people, and this type of policy has no documented evidence in the 28 other states that have a similar policy in place that premiums are rising as a result. Physicians typically write the prescription for a year with 30-day refills, and therefore would not be taking different action on the actual prescribing of the medication.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Peters; Missouri State Medical Association; Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons; M. Ryan Barker, St. Louis Integrated Health Network; Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; National Association of Social Workers - Mo Chapter; Reach Healthcare Foundation; BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital; St. Louis County; Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence; Associated Students of the University of Missouri; Arnie Dienoff; Missouri Family Health Council; Kids Win Missouri; Children's Trust Fund; Missouri Nurses Association; Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence; Mallory Rusch, Empower Missouri; Kristina Grant; Missouri Hospital Association; Jen Bernstein, National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis; Christine Jackson, DO/Mph; Timothy A. Swearengen, MAOPS; David Barbe, MD, Missouri State Medical Association; Missouri Rural Health Association; Missouri Pharmacy Association; Rx Outreach; St. Louis County.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that as it relates to the insurance requirement for contraception that no one is guaranteed a year's worth of any kind of service such as cable or a cell phone plan, and that insurance companies have no guarantee that a member who gets covered for a year's supply of the contraceptive would remain a member for the duration of that year. No other maintenance medications are given this type of unique treatment.
Testifying in person against the bill were America's Health Insurance Plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of KC; Lisa Pannett.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say that there is a cost requirement to this, and that it is unique when compared to how other terms and medications are issued by health insurers.
Testifying in person on the bill was Missouri Insurance Coalition.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: