Did you know?
19% of Missouri's population has some form of hearing loss.
Current consumer protection action
Missouri SB 1443: This measure provides Medicaid coverage for necessary cochlear implants and hearing instruments
Missouri HB 2626: This measure provides Medicaid coverage for necessary cochlear implants and hearing instruments
Summary: This measure provides Medicaid coverage for medically necessary cochlear implants and hearing instruments, as prescribed by an audiologist and dispensed by a hearing instrument specialist.
Status: 2nd Chamber
Outlook: This measure was heard and passed on April 25 in the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee by an undisclosed vote.
It awaits further consideration in the Senate.
The February 20 substitute required the implant and instruments to be prescribed by an audiologist and dispensed by a hearing instrument specialist in order to be covered. It also incorporated a similar measure, HB 1918.
Missouri HB 2534: The measure relates to titles that practitioners must use in their advertising
Summary: The measure relates to titles that practitioners must use in their advertising.
An “advertisement” is defined as any communication (printed, electronic, or oral) naming a health care practitioner and the practice, profession, or institution where the practitioner works.
“Fraudulent misrepresentation” includes misleading terms in advertisements that misrepresent a health care practitioner’s professional skills, training, expertise, education, board certification, or licensure with the intent to mislead the public.
Specifies the titles that different health care practitioners must use in their advertisements, such as “physician,” “surgeon,” “medical doctor” for physicians, and “physician assistant” for physician assistants.
Prohibits fraudulent misrepresentations in advertisements, including falsely claiming board certification.
Requires health care practitioners to display a copy of their license in a prominent place visible to patients. For face-to-face interactions, practitioners must wear a name badge disclosing their name, type of license, and medical staff position.
The measure takes effect August 28, 2024.
Status: 1st Chamber
Outlook: This measure was heard on March 11 in the House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee. No action was reported.
The measure awaits further consideration in an executive session in the committee of referral.
Missouri HB 1918: This measure amends existing legislation regarding MO HealthNet payments
Summary: This measure amends existing legislation regarding MO HealthNet payments and what services are paid for on behalf of the patient. It included medically necessary cochlear implants and hearing instruments.
This measure takes effect on August 28, 2024.
Status: 1st Chamber
Outlook: This measure was heard in an executive session on February 20 in the House Healthcare Reform Committee. It was substituted and incorporated into a substantially similar measure, HB 2626.
HB 2626 will be the vehicle for this measure going forward.
Missouri HB 1421: This measure allows healthcare providers to use their choice of electronic platform
Summary: This measure allows healthcare providers to use their choice of electronic platform to deliver telehealth or telemedicine, provided that all services are delivered under the law. The measure clarifies that the definition of telehealth includes “audiovisual and audio-only technologies.”
This measure takes effect on August 28, 2024.
Status: 1st Chamber
Outlook: This measure was heard in an executive session on February 26 in the House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee. It was submitted and passed committee by an undisclosed vote with a substitute. The substitute text is not yet available.
This measure is eligible for further consideration in the House.
Latest 2023 legislative news
HB 2138. Sponsor: Rep. Ann Kelley (R)
This measure establishes that any person in the clinical fellowship as defined in sections can hold a provisional license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology. This measure establishes the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.
This measure takes effect on August 28, 2022.
HB 3014. Sponsor: Rep. Cody Smith (R)
This measure provides funding for non-institutional services including audiology and durable medical equipment.
This measure provides $25,158,608 for non-institutional services including, but not limited to, audiology, durable medical equipment, rehabilitation, optometry, ambulance, non-emergency medical transportation, and eyeglasses under the MO HealthNet fee-for-service program, and for rehabilitation services provided by residential treatment facilities as authorized by the Children's Division for children in the care and custody of the Children's Division (Pg. 13).
HB 2149. Sponsor: Rep. Brenda Shields (R)
This measure establishes the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact (pp. 30-58).
This measure pertains to audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
The compact becomes effective upon the membership of the 10th state.
HB 2331. Sponsor: Rep. Ben Baker (R)
This measure creates requirements for clinical fellowsips of audiology and speech-language pathology and establishes the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.
This measure takes effect on August 28, 2022.
HB 3011. Sponsor: Rep. Cody Smith (R)
This measure provides funding for all other non-institutional services including audiology services, eyeglasses, and durable medical equipment.