Bill > SB499

This bill, known as the "Patients First Act", requires the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance to ensure that group health plans and health insurance providers cannot discriminate against healthcare providers based on their licensure when it comes to participation in health insurance plans. Specifically, the bill mandates that all healthcare providers must be reimbursed at the same rate for the same services that fall within their professional scope of practice. While providers cannot be discriminated against based on licensure, the bill does allow health plans to establish different reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures. The bill is modeled after Section 2706 of the federal Public Health Service Act, which aims to prevent provider discrimination. The Department of Commerce and Insurance is authorized to create and implement regulations to enforce these provisions, with the rules subject to standard state administrative rulemaking procedures. The new provisions will take effect after August 28, 2025, and are designed to ensure fair treatment and compensation for healthcare providers across different professional licensing categories.

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https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=304602