FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 328
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS YECKEL AND DePASCO.
Read 1st time January 18, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
1410S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 334.021, RSMo 2000, relating to certain health care professionals, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 334.021, RSMo 2000, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 334.021, to read as follows:
334.021. 1. Where other statutes of this state use the terms "physician", "surgeon", "practitioner of medicine", "practitioner of osteopathy", "board of medical examiners", or "board of osteopathic registration and examination" or similar terms, they shall be construed to mean physicians and surgeons licensed under this chapter or the state board of registration for the healing arts in the state of Missouri.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no health facility, health benefit plan, managed care plan, or health carrier shall discriminate with respect to employment, staff, privileges, or the provision of professional services against a physician licensed to practice the healing arts in this state on the basis of whether the physician holds a "medical doctor", "M.D." or "doctor of osteopathy", "D.O." degree.
3. Any reference in an executive order, an administrative regulation, or in the Missouri revised statutes to "medical doctor", "M.D.", or "physician" shall be deemed to include a "doctor of osteopathy" or "D.O." unless any of those terms are specifically excluded by reference to this section. Similarly, any reference to an "osteopath", "D.O." or "physician" shall be deemed to include a "medical doctor" or "M.D.", unless any of those terms are specifically excluded by reference to this section. References to either the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialties shall similarly be deemed to include the other unless specifically excluded by reference to this section.