Bill > SB79

This bill modifies several provisions related to health care in Missouri, with key changes across multiple areas. In the realm of sexually transmitted infections, the bill expands expedited partner therapy to include more diseases beyond chlamydia and gonorrhea, allowing health care professionals to prescribe treatments for partners without a direct medical evaluation. For telemedicine, the bill broadens the definition to include audio-only technologies and gives health care providers more flexibility in choosing electronic platforms for delivering telehealth services. The bill introduces new requirements for prenatal testing, mandating additional blood samples at 28 weeks of pregnancy and immediately after birth to test for various diseases, including HIV and hepatitis. It also adds provisions for health benefit plans to cover self-administered hormonal contraceptives for up to 90 or 180 days, depending on the type of contraceptive. Additionally, the bill creates a new framework for qualified membership organizations to offer contracts for health care benefits, with specific registration requirements and mandatory disclaimers about the nature of the coverage. The bill also includes provisions related to MO HealthNet (Medicaid) services, such as adding coverage for cochlear implants and hearing instruments, and prohibiting payments for gender transition surgeries and related treatments.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=1021