SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (Section 191.648)

Currently, a physician may utilize expedited partner therapy, meaning the practice of treating the sex partners of persons with chlamydia or gonorrhea without an intervening medical evaluation or professional prevention counseling, to prescribe and dispense medications for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea even without an established physician/patient relationship.

Under this act, certain health care professionals may use expedited partner therapy and such therapy may be used for designated sexually transmitted infections beyond chlamydia and gonorrhea. This act repeals the requirement that antibiotic medications prescribed and dispensed through expedited partner therapy for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea be in pill form.

This provision is identical to SB 1445 (2024) and substantially similar to HB 1879 (2024).

FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL OFFENSES (Section 192.2521)

Under this act, a specialty hospital, meaning a hospital other than a general acute care hospital, shall not be required to comply with certain statutory provisions relating to forensic examinations of victims of sexual assault if such hospital has in place a policy for the transfer of such victims to an appropriate hospital with an emergency department.

This provision is substantially similar to SB 1326 (2024).

PRENATAL TESTS FOR CERTAIN DISEASES (Section 210.030)

Currently, a physician or other health care provider shall draw and test a pregnant woman's blood at or soon after her first prenatal examination, with her consent, for syphilis, hepatitis B, or other similar diseases. Under this act, the testing of the pregnant woman's blood shall also occur at the twenty-eighth week of her pregnancy. Additionally, the test shall include hepatitis C and HIV. If a mother tests positive for syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, the physician or other health care provider shall treat the mother in accordance with the most recent accepted medical practice.

Current law requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to work in consultation with the Missouri Genetic Disease Advisory Committee to make rules pertaining to these blood tests. This act repeals the requirement to work with the Committee and requires that the tests be approved or accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This provision is substantially similar to SB 1260 (2024).

INSURANCE COVERAGE OF SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES (Section 376.1240)

This act requires health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, that provide coverage for self-administered hormonal contraceptives, as defined in the act, to cover a supply of the contraceptives which is intended to last up to one year.

This provision is substantially similar to SB 821 (2024) and SB 1321 (2024) and similar to SB 512 (2023), HB 287 (2023), SB 641 (2022), SB 472 (2021), HB 1373 (2021), and SB 346 (2019).

MAMMOGRAMS (repeal of Section 192.769)

This act repeals a provision of current law requiring the provision of a specific notice to patients upon the completion of a mammogram.

This provision is identical to SB 1328 (2024).

SARAH HASKINS