FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 499
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SCHROER.
1582S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 376, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to health care provider
participation in health insurance plans.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 376, R SMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 376.1583, to read as 2
follows:3
376.1583. 1. The provisions of this section shall be 1
known and may be cited as the "Patients First Act". 2
2. The department of commerce an d insurance shall 3
implement and enforce the nondiscrimination protections in 4
Section 2706 of the federal Public Health Service Act, 42 5
U.S.C. Section 300gg -5, by ensuring that no group health 6
plan or health insurance issuer offering group or individual 7
health insurance coverage shall discriminate with respect to 8
participation under the plan or coverage against any health 9
care provider who is acting within the scope of that 10
provider's license or certification under state law. 11
3. (1) A health benefit plan, as defined in section 12
376.1350, shall not discriminate against a health care 13
provider based on the provider's licensure with respect to 14
reimbursement or participation in any plan or insurance 15
program. 16 SB 499 2
(2) All health care providers sh all be reimbursed at 17
the same rate for the same service as long as such service 18
is within the provider's scope of practice. 19
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as 20
preventing a group health plan or a health insurance issuer 21
from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on 22
quality or performance measures. 23
4. The department of commerce and insurance may 24
promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the 25
administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a 26
rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is 27
created under the authority delegated in this section shall 28
become effective only if it complies with and is subject to 29
all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, 30
section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are 31
nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the 32
general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay 33
the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are 34
subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of 35
rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after 36
August 28, 2025, shall be invalid and void. 37