Governor Signs Important Health Care Bills (HB 2029, SB 875, HB 1534, and SB 579)

During the 2016 legislative session the Missouri House and Senate worked together to send several important pieces of legislation to the governor’s desk with the goal of improving both access to health care and the quality of care received. This week the governor signed four of the bills approved by the General Assembly into law.

The governor signed HB 2029 to provide Missourians with chronic illnesses with better access to the medications they need. The legislation is designed to prevent redundant “step therapy” so that patients who switch health insurance benefits are not forced to try medications that have already proven to be ineffective before being allowed to use medication that works. With step therapy, a patient will first use the most cost-effective and safest medication and, if it is not effective, will then move to a more costly therapy. Step therapy has been an effective process, but becomes an issue when a patient tries several medications to find one that is effective, but then has to start the process all over again when changing insurance providers. The legislation approved by the General Assembly will require health insurance plans to provide a process to request a step therapy override determination. 

Now set to become law, SB 875 will proactively update Missouri’s pharmaceutical laws to provide citizens with better access to effective medications. The goal of the bill is to give Missourians more affordable access to interchangeable biological products, which are similar in nature to the generic versions of traditional medications. The products are used in the treatment of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and various forms of cancer. Missouri law currently allows for the safe substitution of generic medications, but the law does not allow for the substitution of biological drug products. The new law will simply allow for the safe substitution of interchangeable biosimilar medications. 

Also set to become law with the governor’s signature is HB 1534, which will extend Missouri’s tax on medical providers that is responsible for billions of dollars in funding for the state’s Medicaid program. The bill will extend the taxes on providers such as hospitals, nursing homes and ambulances for an additional two years. The reauthorization will generate more than $2 billion in funding each year for Missouri’s system of Medicaid.

The governor also signed SB 579 to update the process hospitals use to report healthcare associated infections. The bill will require hospitals to use the federal National Healthcare Safety Network, rather than a separate, state-run system.

Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence (SB 838)

Also this week, the governor signed Senate Bill 838 to help victims of domestic violence. The new law will allow victims of domestic violence who obtain a full order of protection to have their cell phone number and services separated from the account of their abusers. The phone companies require legal authority to modify contracts in this way. The new law will allow victims to transfer their cell phone service to a new account.

Legislation to Protect Students Signed into Law (HB 1583)

Another bill recently signed into law by the governor will take multiple steps to better protect students. One portion of the bill will strengthen the requirements for anti-bullying policies put in place by Missouri school districts. The bill will require that schools investigate a report of bullying within two school days, and conclude the investigation within 10 school days. The bill also requires school districts to adopt a procedure for reporting acts of bullying, and a process for discussing the anti-bullying policy with children and training school employees. Additionally, the bill defines cyber-bullying and states that any school district can subject a student to discipline for cyber-bullying.

Another portion of the bill will allow licensed educators to annually complete up to two hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention as part of the professional development hours required for certification. The bill requires the state education department to develop guidelines for the training. The legislation also requires that each school district adopt a policy to address strategies that can help identify students who are at possible risk of suicide.

Helping Sheriff’s Departments to Better Coordinate Their Efforts (HB 1936)

Legislation that currently awaits the governor’s consideration would allow sheriff’s departments throughout Missouri to more easily work together to promote public safety.

The legislation would allow departments to assist each other even if they are not in adjoining counties. Current law allows only sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in adjoining counties to render assistance to one another. Supports of the bill noted that Missouri law hasn’t changed since 1979 and needs to be updated so that law enforcement agents can assist one another in any county in the state.

The bill also would specify that, for purposes of liability, workers' compensation, overtime, and expense reimbursement, any sheriff or deputy rendering assistance in another county will be deemed an employee of the responding county sheriff's office.

Providing Missourians with Incentives to Save (HB 2125)

The governor has yet to take action on legislation approved by the General Assembly to encourage Missourians to save their hard-earned dollars. The legislation would allow financial institutions in the state to offer and conduct savings promotion programs, which offer participants a chance to win prizes if they make a minimum deposit.

The programs were authorized by Congress in 2013 with the passage of the American Savings Promotion Act. Since its passage, 16 states have authorized savings promotion programs and have encouraged savings of more than $100 million to date. Under current Missouri law, banks and credits unions in the state cannot offer promotional prizes to encourage savings. The bill approved by the legislature would authorize financial institutions to do so.

The bill’s sponsor said the legislation would be extremely beneficial for lower income Missourians. He said nearly 35 percent of the state’s residents do not have savings accounts right now, and nearly 40 percent of Missourians are liquid asset poor, which means they have less than a three-month cushion of savings. He said savings promotion programs represent a great way to create a habit to save.