Government Relations

UM Legislative Update Newsletter

March 3, 2006

Health care legislation update

• SB 566: This bill authorizes an advanced practice registered nurse to prescribe schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances under a collaborative practice agreement. This act also requires participating physicians to report such agreements to the state board of registration for the healing arts. The bill is currently third on the Senate Perfection calendar and should be debated on the Senate floor next week.
   

• SB 575: This act creates a program through which unused prescription drugs may be transferred from long term care facilities to city or county health departments for the purpose of distributing the medications to low-income residents of this state meeting certain eligibility criteria. Drugs donated under the Prescription Drug Repository Program that are not used or accepted by any pharmacies, hospitals, or nonprofit clinics may be distributed to out-of-state charitable repositories for use outside of the state. This bill has passed the Senate and is ready for House committee referral. 
   

• SB 765: Under this act, informed consent for an experimental medical treatment is not required if the patient is subject to a life-threatening emergency and the research program or experimental medical procedure is conducted under certain federal regulations allowing for treatment to be started immediately and consent to be obtained later. The Senate passed this as a consent bill on March 1 with an emergency clause. A companion bill (HB 1601) is moving through the House.
   

• SB 828: This act repeals the sunset within provisions allowing dental hygienists to practice under the supervision of a dentist and to provide fluoride treatments to certain children. The Senate passed this as a consent bill on March 1.
   

• SB 858: This bill establishes the Healthcare Technology Fund. Upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used to promote technological advances to improve patient care, decrease administrative burdens, and increase patient and health care provider satisfaction. Any programs or improvements on technology shall include encouragement and implementation of technologies intended to improve the safety, quality and costs of health care services in the state. This bill has made it through the Senate and is awaiting committee referral in the House.
   

• SB 901: The bill establishes the Joint Committee on Health. The committee's duties include analyzing and developing policy proposals to reach the goal of all citizens of the state having affordable healthcare available to them and to improve the delivery of healthcare services in Missouri. In addition, the committee shall monitor the design and implementation of any initiatives proposed by the Missouri Medicaid Reform Commission. This bill is currently on the Senate Perfection calendar awaiting floor debate.
   

• SB 965: This act repeals the statute creating the Advisory Committee on Poison Control. It provides that rather than the advisory committee, the state health agency shall provide for the establishment of a Missouri Regional Poison Information Center and Network and shall work in conjunction with local health agencies and health care providers on the region to be served by the Missouri regional poison information center. It is currently on the Senate Perfection calendar awaiting floor debate.
   

• HB 1101: This act allows an employer to provide or contract for health insurance at a reduced deductible level for employees who do not smoke or use tobacco products. Current law already allows employers to negotiate a reduced premium rate for such employees. The House Insurance Policy committee voted the bill out on February 28 and it was referred to the House Rules committee, which must clear it for floor debate.
   

• HB 1118: This bill allows for the deployment of any health care professional licensed, registered, or certified in this state or an adjoining state who volunteers during an emergency declared by the governor and provides them immunity from civil damages for providing services. Currently, only in-state professionals are allowed to be deployed. The House perfected this as a consent bill on February 24.
   

• HB 1168: This bill allows the Missouri State Board of Pharmacy to establish the Well-being Committee to aid pharmacists who suffer from illness, substance abuse, mental illness, or physical impairments. All communications are confidential. The committee may disclose information about an impaired licensee in certain circumstances. The bill is currently on the House Perfection calendar awaiting floor debate.
   

• HB 1232: This act requires a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility to notify in writing the coroner, funeral home personnel, or any person responsible for transporting the dead when an individual dies of a disease that is contagious, infectious, or communicable. The bill is currently on the House Perfection calendar awaiting floor debate.
   

• HB 1234: This bill changes two provisions of the Nursing Student Loan Repayment Program. "Eligible student" is redefined as a person who has been accepted as a full-time nursing student, rather than a person who has applied for admission. Currently, 25 percent of the loan is forgiven for each year of employment; the bill revises the repayment provision to permit forgiveness through employment without mention of a specific schedule. The bill was perfected by the House on March 2. 

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