HB 1979 defines "community paramedic services" as non-emergency care provided by certified paramedics outside 911 systems, following approved protocols. It establishes certification requirements: paramedics must hold current paramedic licenses, complete department-approved training programs, and submit applications. The bill also requires ambulance services providing these services outside their primary area to coordinate with local providers through written agreements and notify other services about community paramedic activities. This directly affects paramedics, ambulance services, and medical directors overseeing these non-emergency care programs.
HB 1984 revises Missouri's law on "keeping a dangerous dog," primarily affecting dog owners and animal control authorities. It defines the offense as owning a dog that bites a person, domestic animal, or livestock without provocation (either once or after a prior bite), with penalties escalating from an infraction to a class D felony based on injury severity or prior incidents. The bill mandates immediate seizure and impoundment of such dogs for 10 days after a bite, followed by destruction unless the owner appeals in court within 30 days. Owners may also be ordered to pay medical bills for victims or replacement costs for dead livestock, but owners are exempt from liability if the victim was engaged in criminal activity (excluding minor trespass).
HB 1926 prohibits health care professionals in Missouri from documenting or disclosing a patient's citizenship or immigration status in medical records, except when assessing eligibility for social or community services. It specifically bans sharing this information with law enforcement agencies under any circumstances. The bill establishes that licensing boards must investigate violations, imposing one-year license suspensions for intentional disclosures and probation for accidental ones. This law directly affects doctors, nurses, and other licensed health care providers who handle patient records across Missouri.
HB 1944 regulates how Missouri health insurers pay for anesthesia services and handle claim adjustments. It prohibits insurers from setting time limits on anesthesia payments or excluding all anesthesia time from calculations. The bill bans automated systems (including AI) for reducing payments on claims, requiring human physician reviews instead, and mandates clear documentation of downcoding decisions with 180-day appeal timelines. This directly affects anesthesia providers, insurers, and state health programs like MO HealthNet.
HB 1968 prohibits licensed mental health professionals in Missouri from providing conversion therapy to minors. Conversion therapy is defined as any practice intended to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to alter behaviors or reduce attraction. The bill amends professional licensing laws to include this prohibition as grounds for disciplinary action, such as license denial or revocation. This directly affects mental health practitioners who work with minors and changes regulatory standards for their practice.
HB 1982 designates March 26th of each year as "Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)/Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS) Awareness Day" in Missouri. The bill encourages Missouri citizens to participate in events and activities raising awareness about these specific pediatric disorders. It does not create new programs, funding, or requirements - only establishes a symbolic observance date. The measure directly affects Missouri residents by designating an annual day for public education on these conditions. This is a procedural bill with no substantive policy changes beyond the awareness designation.
HB 1927 prohibits Missouri health insurance plans from requiring prior authorization (pre-approval) for inpatient psychiatric hospital services. This bill directly affects patients seeking psychiatric hospitalization and health insurers who currently must approve such care before coverage. The key provision removes the requirement for insurers to review and approve inpatient psychiatric care in advance, streamlining access to treatment. It applies specifically to inpatient psychiatric hospital services, not other types of care or outpatient treatment. The bill repeals existing prior authorization rules for this service under Missouri law.
This bill protects Missouri health care professionals (like doctors and nurses) from lawsuits when they ask patients about home safety hazards during medical visits. It grants immunity for inquiring about dangerous substances or unsafe conditions in patients' homes, offering safety education, and documenting such findings in medical records. The law directly affects health care providers during patient assessments, ensuring they can discuss home safety without legal risk. It clarifies that these protections do not override existing rules restricting inquiries about firearm ownership.
HB 1959 designates three annual observances in Missouri: June as "Immigrant Heritage Month" to celebrate immigrant contributions, October 2nd as "Wrongful Conviction Day" to raise awareness about wrongful convictions, and December 1st as "Freeman Bosley, Sr. Day" honoring a retired St. Louis politician. The bill creates no new legal requirements or funding but formally names these dates for public recognition. It directly affects all Missouri residents by encouraging participation in related events. The designation applies statewide with no specific restrictions or targeted groups.
HB 2476 modifies Missouri's school funding rules by changing how student attendance is counted for state aid calculations and setting new financial requirements for school districts. It requires that suspended or expelled students remain counted in attendance for up to 180 days for accountability systems and weighted average daily attendance (WADA) calculations, while ensuring districts maintain accurate attendance records. School districts must now levy an operating tax of at least $1.25 per $100 property valuation (increasing to $2.75 for the 2006-07 school year and beyond) to qualify for full state aid, with exceptions for districts near nuclear power plants or large electric facilities. These changes directly affect all Missouri public school districts receiving state education funding.
HB 1976 updates Missouri law to allow pharmacists to order and administer most vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, excluding specific vaccines like cholera, monkeypox, and those jointly excluded by state boards after January 1, 2023. It directly affects pharmacists and patients aged seven or older (or the age recommended by the CDC for a vaccine), expanding pharmacists' role in vaccine administration. Key provisions require joint rulemaking by the pharmacy board and the healing arts board to define covered vaccines, while maintaining existing restrictions on certain diseases and emergency protocols. The bill removes prior limitations on pharmacist vaccine authority, making it a concrete policy change to increase vaccine access through pharmacies.
HB 1954 requires Missouri landlords to fix health- and safety-threatening conditions in rental properties within 30 days of a tenant’s written notice. It directly affects tenants facing hazards like pest infestations (defined broadly to include bedbugs, rodents, and spiders), hazardous mold, sewage backups, or unsafe structural issues, and landlords who fail to act. Landlords must cover tenant health costs resulting from their failure to remediate, and must have repairs verified by a licensed inspector after fixing the problem. The bill adds these specific protections to Missouri’s landlord-tenant law (RSMo § 441.237).
