Healthcare

SB 1541 prohibits licensed mental health professionals (such as therapists and counselors) from providing conversion therapy to minors. The bill directly affects minors seeking mental health care and the licensed professionals who provide it. It creates a legal ban on this specific practice within the state, requiring professionals to cease such treatments for patients under 18. The bill is currently in committee review, with no votes taken yet.

SCS/SB 1536 - This act establishes the Designated Health Care Decision-Maker Act. Specifically, a health care provider or health care facility may rely on good faith and reasonable medical judgment for health care decisions made by designated health care decision-makers if two physicians determine that the patient is incapacitated. The physician or the physician's designee shall make reasonable efforts, as described in the act, to inform potential designated health care decision-makers of a patient's incapacitation. Designated health care decision-makers may be selected from the following persons listed by priority: (1) The spouse of the patient; (2) An adult child of the patient; (3) A parent of the patient; (4) An adult sibling of the patient; (5) A grandparent or adult grandchild of the patient; (6) The niece or nephew or the next nearest relative of the patient; (7) A religious person who is a member of the patient's community; (8) Any nonrelative with a close personal relationship who is familiar with the patient's values; or (9) A person unanimously agreed upon by those in the priority list. Priority shall not knowingly be given to those listed if abuse or neglect is reported, the person with priority cannot be reached by the physician, or if the probate court finds that the person with priority is making decisions contrary to the patient's instructions. Furthermore, this act does not prevent any person interested in the patient's welfare, a health care provider, or a health care facility from petitioning the probate court for the appointment of a guardian. A designated health care decision-maker shall make reasonable efforts to obtain information regarding the patient's health preferences and make decisions in the patient's best interests. Additionally, a designated health care decision-maker may only authorize the withdrawal or withholding of nutrition or hydration supplied through either natural or artificial means in certain situations as specified in the act. Once a health care decision-maker or physician believes that the patient is no longer incapacitated then the patient shall be reexamined. If the patient's physician determines that the patient is no longer incapacitated, then the physician shall certify the decision and the basis therefor in the patient's medical record and shall notify the patient, the designated health care decision-maker, and the person who initiated the redetermination of capacity. Rights of the designated health care decision-maker shall cease upon the physician's certification that the patient is no longer incapacitated. This act further provides that no health care provider or health care facility that makes reasonable efforts to locate and communicate with potential designated health care decision-makers shall be liable for the effort to identify and communicate with a potential designated health care decision-maker. Nothing in this act shall be construed as condoning, authorizing, or approving euthanasia or mercy killing, or as permitting any affirmative or deliberate act to end a person's life. This act is similar to HB 1886 (2026), SB 356 (2025), HB 747 (2025), SB 1055 (2024), HCS/HB 144 (2017), the perfected HCS/HB 381 (2017), SB 493 (2017), SB 493 (2016), and HCS/HB 2502 (2016). KATIE O'BRIEN

HB 3113 requires public buildings to store naloxone (an overdose reversal medication) in first aid kits and near defibrillators, and to inform occupants of its location and emergency procedures. It designates April as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" and mandates school districts to establish drug-free advisory committees with community input, implement grade 6-12 fentanyl education, and develop prevention programs for students. The bill also directs law enforcement to investigate all drug-related deaths as homicide crime scenes, regardless of criminal charges, and to collaborate with schools on drug trafficking prevention in school zones. These provisions directly affect public buildings, school districts, and law enforcement agencies across Missouri.

HB 3059 requires health insurance plans in Missouri to cover prescription drugs for advanced, metastatic cancer and related symptoms (like treatment side effects) without first demanding that patients try and fail other drugs. It directly affects cancer patients enrolled in health benefit plans, including MO HealthNet (Missouri's Medicaid program), by removing barriers to accessing necessary medications. The bill specifies coverage must apply to FDA-approved drugs that align with evidence-based medical guidelines and best practices for treating advanced cancer. This change ensures patients aren't forced to undergo ineffective treatments or provide proof of prior failures before receiving covered care.

HB 2670 requires hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, abortion facilities, and laboratories to report data on specific health care-associated infections - such as MRSA and VRE - to Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services. The data must include patient counts by facility type and will be used to track preventable infections and monitor antibiotic resistance trends, while maintaining patient confidentiality. The department must follow CDC guidelines and consider input from an infection control advisory panel when developing reporting systems and analyzing the data. This bill also aligns Missouri's requirements with federal data systems like the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network to reduce duplicate reporting for facilities.

HB 3008 expands pharmacists' scope of practice to include managing medication treatment plans under physician protocols for specific conditions like minor illnesses, emergencies, or chronic conditions without requiring a new diagnosis. It permits pharmacists to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy, administer certain vaccines (excluding specific high-risk types), and provide HIV postexposure prophylaxis, all while working within defined boundaries. The bill requires written protocols from physicians (not nurses or physician assistants) and explicitly prohibits pharmacists from diagnosing or independently prescribing outside these specified scenarios. It also clarifies that pharmacists remain responsible for supervising support staff and maintains existing regulations for pharmacy ownership and nonprescription drug sales.

HB 2976 revises Missouri's requirements for physicians seeking a license. Applicants must now provide a criminal background check, proof of graduation from an accredited medical school (or an ECFMG certificate for foreign graduates), and evidence of two years of postgraduate training. The bill also allows the licensing board to request a list of all previous medical licenses and any disciplinary history. These changes directly affect all individuals applying for a physician license in Missouri.

HB 2948 creates a Missouri state tax credit for caregivers of eligible family members. It allows Missouri residents who provide ongoing care to a qualifying recipient (a person aged 60+ or under 60 with a disability requiring daily assistance) to claim a credit of up to $1,500 annually, based on documented caregiving costs like adult day care, in-home services, transportation, or medical supplies. Caregivers must provide proof of residency, care provision, and dependency status (or alternative documentation), but medical records are not required. The credit, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2027, is refundable and cannot be carried forward or transferred.

This bill requires that individuals arrested for criminal offenses who need a mental health evaluation to determine if they can proceed with trial, conviction, or sentencing must receive that evaluation within 45 days of arrest. It also mandates that if an evaluation shows a person needs treatment, they must be transferred to a mental health facility within 45 days of the evaluation. Exceptions allow delays for medical emergencies, lack of evaluators (with documented efforts), or court-approved delays up to 15 days. The Department of Mental Health must submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, detailing compliance with these timelines.

HB 3010 sets strict time limits for health insurance companies on prior authorization decisions for medical services. It requires insurers to make initial review decisions within 36 hours, provide phone notifications within 24 hours for both approvals and denials, and send written confirmation within 1-2 working days. The bill specifically extends approval validity to 12 months for chronic conditions (like cancer treatment) and prohibits billing patients for services with valid prior authorization, except for standard cost-sharing. These rules apply directly to health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients enrolled in health benefit plans.