HB 2355 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Creates provisions relating to a MO HealthNet waiver for nutrition services

HB 2355 would authorize Missouri's Department of Social Services to seek a federal waiver from Medicare and Medicaid to create a "Food is Medicine" program within MO HealthNet. This program would provide nutrition services - including counseling, meals, prescriptions, and grocery support - to MO HealthNet participants diagnosed with nutrition-related chronic diseases like diabetes or heart conditions. The bill requires prioritizing community organizations and local farms for food purchases in nutrition prescriptions. It directly affects low-income Missourians enrolled in MO HealthNet who manage chronic health conditions linked to diet. The bill is currently in the Health and Mental Health committee for review.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 10, 2025 Last action May 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Perfected → Senate Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a House version to a Senate Committee Substitute, resulting in significant changes to the definitions and scope of covered services. The Senate version removed 'qualified clinical team' as an authorized prescriber, restricting authority solely to registered dietitians. Additionally, the Senate version deleted 'Prescription micronutrient therapy' (vitamin coverage) from the list of covered services.

Scope change

The scope of the program was narrowed by removing vitamin coverage and limiting prescriber eligibility to registered dietitians only.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Medically tailored groceries' was changed to remove 'qualified clinical team' as an authorized prescriber, now requiring prescription solely by a registered dietitian.

The definition of 'Medically tailored meals' was changed to remove 'qualified clinical team' as an authorized prescriber, now requiring prescription solely by a registered dietitian.

SCOPE

The definition of 'Prescription micronutrient therapy' was removed entirely, meaning vitamin supplementation is no longer covered under this program.

REQUIREMENT

The list of covered food provisions was updated to remove 'Prescription micronutrient therapy', leaving only groceries, meals, and produce prescriptions.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Committee

Second read and referred: Families, Seniors and Health(S)

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 121 NOES: 18 PRESENT: 12

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 7 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred: Health and Mental Health(H)

lower

Dec 10, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors