Bill > HB952

This bill modifies Missouri law (Section 490.715) regarding how insurance payments and reimbursements are handled in tort liability cases. The legislation establishes that evidence of collateral sources (third-party payments) generally cannot be admitted in court, with some specific exceptions. If a defendant or their insurer pays part of a plaintiff's special damages before trial, those paid portions cannot be recovered again from the defendant. The bill introduces a new provision allowing defendants to be protected from potential double recovery scenarios, specifically when they reimburse a plaintiff's insurer for deductibles and damages prior to filing a liability claim. The legislation also clarifies how medical care costs can be calculated and introduced as evidence, defining "actual cost" as the amount actually paid plus any remaining financial obligation, after accounting for contractual discounts or write-offs. This means that the courts will look at the actual amounts paid or owed for medical treatment, rather than potentially inflated initial billing amounts. The overall aim appears to be preventing duplicate payments and ensuring more transparent and fair calculation of damages in legal proceedings.

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https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB952&year=2025&code=R