Gov. Kehoe signs six health care bills into law
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KBSI) — Gov. Mike Kehoe signed six health care-related bills into law Monday, expanding telehealth access, strengthening protections for vulnerable Missourians and making changes to health care licensing and insurance practices.
The legislation includes House Bills 2372 and 2974 and Senate Bills 878, 999, 1019 and 1233.
“I was proud to sign six bills into law today that will improve health care services for Missourians across our state,” Kehoe said in a statement.
Among the measures signed:
Senate Bill 999 creates the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, extending legal protections to infants who survive an abortion attempt. The bill also expands the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board and directs it to track maternal deaths in maternity care deserts.
House Bill 2372 expands access to telehealth by allowing patients to establish physician relationships through virtual visits and allows community paramedics to provide more primary and preventive care in underserved areas.
The bill also adds protections against certain health insurance practices involving anesthesia services and contrast-enhanced mammograms, increases transparency in hospital pricing and prior authorization practices, and authorizes the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to begin tracking Alpha-gal syndrome.
House Bill 2974 updates Missouri’s health care licensing reciprocity laws, allowing eligible health care professionals licensed through reciprocity to provide telehealth services and enabling physician assistants to practice across participating states without obtaining additional licenses.
Kehoe also signed Senate Bill 878, which modifies laws relating to pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices; Senate Bill 1019, which makes additional changes to Missouri health care laws; and Senate Bill 1233, which updates licensing requirements for certain professions.
The governor said the legislation supports Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program by increasing access to care, improving licensing processes and strengthening protections for patients across the state.
