Bill > HB1650

This bill modifies Missouri's laws regarding assistant physicians, creating a new pathway for medical school graduates who have not completed a residency to practice primary care in underserved areas. An assistant physician is defined as a medical school graduate who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident, has passed certain medical licensing exam steps, and has not completed a postgraduate residency. The bill establishes that assistant physicians can only provide primary care services in medically underserved rural or urban areas or in federally qualified health centers. The legislation creates a detailed process for assistant physicians to potentially become fully licensed physicians, which involves completing 60 months of collaborative practice, undergoing 600 hours of core category and 840 hours of elective category postgraduate training under a preceptor's supervision, completing 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years, and obtaining recommendation letters. The collaborating physician remains responsible for overseeing the assistant physician's activities. The bill also requires health insurance carriers to reimburse assistant physicians similarly to other mid-level healthcare providers and mandates that assistant physicians clearly identify themselves as such. The provisions aim to increase medical access in underserved areas while maintaining patient safety through structured supervision and training requirements.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1650&year=2026&code=R