Sen. Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for the Week of June 13, 2022

Governor Signs Bill Protecting Use of Certain COVID Treatments

On June 7, the governor signed legislation into law to prohibit the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts from sanctioning the licenses of doctors who prescribe two drugs touted by some as possible treatments for COVID-19, but not approved for that purpose for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The bill also imposes a gag order on pharmacists by prohibiting them from raising questions with patients and doctors about the efficacy or safety of using the drugs for non-approved purposes.

The drugs in question are ivermectin, a treatment for parasitic worms, and hydroxychloroquine sulfate, which is used to treat autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Neither are proven effective against COVID-19, and the National Institute of Health’s COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel recommends against using them to treat the disease. The protections for those who prescribe the two drugs for off label purposes are included in House Bill 2149. The bill takes effect Aug. 28.

Attorney General Subpoenas School Districts

On June, the Missouri attorney general issued subpoenas to seven school districts seeking information on student surveys that allegedly contain information the attorney general deemed inappropriate.

In a news release, the attorney general claims the surveys ask questions relating to racial views, political affiliation and sexual orientation. The subpoenaed districts are Mehlville and Webster Groves in the St. Louis area, Lee’s Summit and Park Hill in the Kansas City area and Jefferson City. The attorney general gave the districts 10 days to comply.

Earlier this year, the attorney general sued about four dozen public school districts over their COVID-19 mitigation efforts. None of the lawsuits made much progress, and all but a few were dismissed. In May, however, the attorney general again sued six districts over the issue – all for the second time after previous cases against them had been dismissed.

Upcoming Town Hall

I will be hosting an in-person town hall on Saturday, June 25, at 9:30 a.m. The event will be held at the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, located at 2657 Independence Ave., Kansas City, MO.

Social distancing will be observed during the event, and breakfast will be served. For more information or to RSVP, please email Brian.Farmer@senate.mo.gov or call 573-751-3158.

Registering to Vote Information

If you are a Kansas City resident, please visit the Kansas City Election Board website for more information on how to vote or where to register to vote. If you a resident of Jackson County, but not a Kansas City resident, please visit the Jackson County Election Board website for more information.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Special License Plate

During the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 189, which I was proud to sponsor. This legislation creates a special license plate for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Anyone interested in supporting this Kansas City gem can apply for the license plate by following these steps:

1. Make a $10 donation to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
   • Donations can be made directly to the museum or by sending the museum a check upon submitting your application. Be sure to get a receipt for your contribution.
2. Complete the 1716 form to apply for the specialty license plate. This form can be found at mo.gov/motor-vehicle/plates/personalized-specialty.html.
   • When completing the form, select “other” and fill in that you are applying for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum plate.
3. Send your application, along with your $10 museum donation (or the receipt for your donation), and your $15 standard plate application fee to the museum at 1616 E. 18th St., KCMO 64108.

As of April 9, 2021, anyone age 5 and up is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please contact your local pharmacy or health care provider for information on how best to receive one of the available vaccines. For more information about the vaccine in Missouri, please visit covidvaccine.mo.gov.

University Health is now providing Pfizer, Moderna and J & J booster shots for COVID-19. The CDC approved a booster shot for any adult who received their first two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or for any adult who received a single dose of the J & J vaccine at least two months ago. If you are eligible, you can schedule an appointment by calling 816-404-CARE or walk in to University Health (2211 Charlotte St., KCMO 64108) or University Health Lakewood Medical Center (7900 Lee’s Summit Road, KCMO 64139). The COVID-19 vaccine is available for children ages 5-12 at these two locations as well. Patients may make an appointment with their child’s provider at the Med/Ped’s clinic at UHTMC or the Family Medicine Clinic at UHLMC. Additional vaccine information, including free transportation info, is available at www.universityhealthkc.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/.

The Jackson County Health Department also has numerous vaccine and testing clinics available. For more information, please visit jacohd.org.

The Center for COVID Recovery is open to treat patients who experience long-term effects from the virus. For more information, visit universityhealthkc.org/covid-19/center-for-covid-recovery; please share this information with anyone who continues to struggle after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Thank you for your vote of confidence to serve the people of the 9th District in the Missouri Senate. In an effort to keep you up-to-date with my legislation or other proposed measures, please feel free to visit my website at senate.mo.gov/Washington. I appreciate your active interest in your community and encourage your participation in the legislative process. Should you need assistance with state matters, please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-3158.

Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2022

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