Government Relations

UM Legislative Update Newsletter

May 19, 2008

Health care legislation passes

• SB724: Gives advanced practiced registered nurses authority to prescribe schedule III, IV and V drugs while under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. Certain provisions must be contained in the practice agreement, and there are certain limitations applicable for all collaborative practice agreements. In addition, the bill contains modified requirements for the sale of products containing pseudoephredrine.
• SB768: Creates the Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders to advise the governor and General Assembly on autism issues and create a comprehensive statewide plan for integrated training, treatment and services for individuals with ASD. The bill also creates and Office of Autism Services within the Department of Mental Health.
• SB850: Requires the Board of Optometry to give 10 days notice of the time and place of its meetings.
• SB1068: Establishes the Pharmacy Rebates Fund for the purpose of depositing any revenues received by the state from pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates for use by the MO HealthNet pharmacy program.
• SB1081: Modifies provisions relating to quality assurance and safety within the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities through modifications to the Family Care Safety Registry, the Good Samaritan Law, reporting and investigating abuse and neglect, the mental health disqualification list and the use of security devices.
• SB1105: Creates an income tax check-off for the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund, the balance of which may be used for breast cancer services.
• SB1139: Revises the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.
• SB1177 and HB 1791: Allows licensed professional counselors to be included in the definition of mental health professionals in certain instances.
• HB1790: Modifies the law relating to municipal health care facilities boards and hospital designations. Currently, hospitals may be designated as trauma centers. This act allows an additional designation as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI, center or as a stroke center. The Department of Health and Senior Services must assess the capacity of a hospital, establish protocols for transporting patients, and establish regions within the state for coordinating STEMI or stroke care before designating. Upon submission and approval of a community-based plan, patients will be transported to the nearest STEMI or stroke center.
• HB2065: This act repeals the current reciprocity provision that allows a licensed or certified psychologist in another state with similar qualifications to receive a Missouri license without meeting the required criteria. The act also allows for the destruction of the records of meritless claims against psychologists by sexual predators under certain circumstances.