Government Relations
UM Legislative Update Newsletter
April 6, 2007
MO HealthNet bill passes Senate
SB577, the bill that revises Missouri’s Medicaid program and creates in its place the MO HealthNet program, was perfected by the Senate on Wednesday, April 4. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph), had a number of amendments added by both parties. It will be third read in the Senate next week and then will move to the House for committee hearings and floor debate.
In its major provisions, the perfected version:
- Further defines the parameters of the three health improvement plan choices that will be available for participants;
- Adds psychiatrists, psychologists and other professionals licensed under chapter 337 to the list of providers eligible for assistance through the Primary Care Resource Initiative for Missouri (PRIMO) program;
- Requires health improvement plans to seek arrangements with telehealth providers to assure availability of care and allows state departments to govern the practice of telehealth within the MO HealthNet program;
- Adds language allowing for durable medical equipment if medically necessary;
- Creates an 18-member Professional Services Payment Committee, which will develop guidelines regarding the pay-for-performance program;
- Requires third-party payers to honor MO HealthNet subrogation claims for up to 3 years from the date of service;
- Requires the Department of Social Services to establish criteria for the disbursement of funds to include preference for not-for-profit health care entities where the majority of patients served are either MO HealthNet participants or are from a medically underserved population; and
- Allows participants to choose their own health improvement plan.
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