MissouriHealth plans cover pregnancy monitors and protect nonopioid pain options
Starting in 2027, health plans would cover certain home blood pressure monitors and limit opioid-first rules for pain medicine; pharmacists may dispense two medicines under board procedures.
What it does
Maternity health plans would cover a prescribed home blood pressure monitor and training when medically appropriate for pregnancy or the first year after birth.
Health plans could not deny nonopioid pain medicine in favor of opioids, require an opioid trial first, or charge more for the nonopioid medicine.
Pharmacists may provide ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine without a prescription under board approved procedures and warning labels, with secure storage and controlled access.
Argument forPeople treated for pain may have a fairer chance to use nonopioid medicine because plans cannot favor opioids when multiple options are approved.
Argument againstPregnant patients may have easier access to blood pressure checks at home, though repeat devices are limited to worsening conditions or later pregnancies.
More detail
Health plans must cover prescribed home blood pressure devices and setup and use training. This applies to pregnant women and women within twelve months after giving birth who have maternity coverage. Coverage applies only when medically appropriate under professional guidelines. A device or training can be prescribed again only if the monitored condition worsens enough to need it or for a later pregnancy. Applies to plans issued, renewed, or continued on or after January 1, 2027.
Health plans may not favor opioid medicine over prescribed nonopioid medicine for pain. This applies when a licensed health professional prescribes nonopioid medicine for acute or chronic pain to a plan enrollee. For acute pain, the rule applies only when multiple nonopioid medicines are approved and indicated; the same condition applies separately to chronic pain. Applies to plans issued, renewed, or continued on or after January 1, 2027.
Pharmacists may dispense ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine without a prescription under board procedures. This applies to pharmacists dispensing these two medicines without a prescription. The board must approve a warning label and written procedures or protocols for use and indications. The drugs must be kept securely behind the counter and dispensed by a pharmacist or supervised pharmacy technician.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 20Signed by Governor Mike KehoeBecame Law
- May 28Reported Duly Enrolled Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics CommitteeTo Governor
- May 28Signed by Senate President Pro Tem
- May 28Signed by House Speaker
- May 28Delivered to Governor
- May 12S concurs in HCS, as amended
- May 12S Third Read and PassedMajor
- May 12Truly Agreed To and Finally PassedMajor
- May 11Voted Do Pass H Fiscal ReviewMinor
- May 11Reported Do Pass H Fiscal ReviewMinor
- May 11Bill Placed on H Informal Calendar
- May 11HA 1 to HCS H offered & adopted (Stinnett)--(5598H07.07H)
- May 11HCS, as amended, H adopted --(5598H.07C)
- May 11H Third Read and PassedMajor
- May 7Referred H Fiscal Review CommitteeMinor
- May 5HCS Reported Do Pass H Rules - LegislativeMinor
- May 4HCS Voted Do Pass H Rules - LegislativeMinor
- Apr 30HCS Voted Do Pass H Health and Mental HealthMinor
- Apr 30HCS Reported Do Pass H Health and Mental HealthMinor
- Apr 30HCS Referred H Rules - LegislativeMinor
- Apr 23Hearing Conducted H Health and Mental Health
- Apr 16Referred H Health and Mental HealthMinor
- Mar 24H Second ReadMinor
- Mar 23S Third Read and PassedPassed House
- Mar 23H First ReadMinor
- Mar 12Reported Truly Perfected S Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee
- Mar 11SS for SCS S offered (Fitzwater)--(5598S.05F)
- Mar 11SA 1 to SS for SCS S offered & adopted (McCreery)--(5598S05.06S)
- Mar 11SA 2 to SS for SCS S offered & adopted (Nicola)--(5598S05.10S)
- Mar 11SS for SCS, as amended, S adoptedPassed Senate
- Mar 11Perfected
- Feb 26SCS Reported from S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
- Feb 4SCS Voted Do Pass S Families, Seniors and Health Committee (5598S.03C)Minor
- Jan 14Hearing Conducted S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
- Jan 8Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health CommitteeMinor
- Jan 7S First ReadMinor
- 2025
- Dec 1PrefiledIntroduced
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionGovernment & Ethics