Bill > HB2146

This bill modifies provisions related to hospital operations and investments, as well as regulations on certain over-the-counter medications. For hospitals established under sections 96.150 to 96.229, the bill increases the percentage of funds that can be invested in various mutual funds, bonds, or money-market investments from twenty-five to fifty percent, with the remainder to be invested as the state treasurer is allowed, provided the hospital receives less than three percent of its annual revenue from municipal, county, or state taxes and less than three percent from city appropriations. It also allows these hospitals to engage in health care activities and lease related facilities, with an exception for counties that already have a hospital organized under similar chapters, and requires city approval if the hospital accepts city funds and plans to expand activities outside the city. A new section, 206.158, is added to allow hospital districts to invest up to fifty percent of their funds in similar investment vehicles, with the remainder invested as the state treasurer is allowed, if the district receives less than three percent of its annual revenue from hospital district or state taxes. The bill also revises regulations concerning the sale and purchase of drug products containing ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine, which are commonly used as precursors in the manufacture of methamphetamine. It increases the annual limit for these products from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams per individual, while maintaining the thirty-day limit at 7.2 grams and the twenty-four-hour limit at 3.6 grams, and establishes a fee for manufacturers of these products to fund a real-time electronic tracking system. Additionally, a new section, 376.417, prohibits health carriers, pharmacy benefit managers, and their affiliates from discriminating against "covered entities" (entities that receive discounted drugs under the 340B drug-pricing program) by reimbursing them less for 340B drugs or imposing different terms and conditions, with civil penalties for violations. Finally, the bill updates the penalties for unlawful sale, distribution, or purchase of these over-the-counter methamphetamine precursor drugs, including a new offense for manufacturers who fail to pay the required tracking system fees.