1.    Peer Review Legislation – This effort is supported by MEMSA, MAA, MO ACEP, MO Fire Service Alliance, MDHSS & SAC.  SB 915 (Ridgeway), HB 1454 (Roorda) has been assigned to Judiciary Committee.  The legislation would provide protection for Quality Improvement records from plaintiff attorneys.

Almost all health care providers have had this protection for many years.  This has been vigorously opposed by the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. SB 915 is on the Senate Calendar waiting for floor debate.  In the House the peer review has been added to HB 1493 the omnibus bill in the House Committee on Public Safety.

2.    Increased Medicaid Funding for Ambulance Services – This effort is supported by MEMSA & MAA. Both organizations have testified before two committees and met with senior committee members.  Currently ground ambulance services receive 40% of what Medicare pays while air ambulance companies receive 26% of Medicare payments for Medicaid patients. The Senate Appropriations committee has put in $1 million of new state money for emergency ground and air ambulance Medicaid services.  It is expected that the split between Air and Ground will be 40/60 which means that for every forty cents of state money received, 60 cents of federal funds will be received, equaling a total increase in Medicaid of over $2.5 million next year and every year after that.

3.    Death Benefit for EMS, Fire & Law Enforcement - HB 1630 (Bruns), SB 966 (Dempsey). This effort is supported by the State Council of Firefighters, as well as MEMSA, MAA & SAC.  This bill is a repeat of last year’s effort, i.e., $100,000 death benefit and $10,000 burial contribution. A state senate hearing was held for SB 966, but there has been no activity this last week.

4.    Cell Phone 9-1-1 funding - A bill is expected to be filed soon to set up a state-side pubic vote for a monthly tax (50-75 cents) on cell phones which could then pay for the establishment of 9-1-1 in the 15 counties currently without 9-1-1 and the 80 counties with inadequate cell phone 9-1-1 services. This particular bill is not expected to move and does not settle the state-wide issue.

5.    Stroke / STEMI Legislation - HB 1790 (Cooper) SB 1233 (Shields).  This effort is led by the Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) and is supported by MEMSA, MAA, ACEP, AHA, MO Hospital Association and SAC.  This bill would create stroke and STEMI centers similar to trauma centers.  It is expected that Senator Shields will file a similar bill in the Senate.  HB 1790 passed in the House 143-0. A senate committee hearing was held on Tuesday April 15.

6.    Recall of Ambulance District Board Members - SB 978 (Griesheimer), HB 1936 (Joe Smith) {assigned to Local Government Committee}.  This effort is supported by the State Council of Firefighters, SAC, MEMSA and MAA.  We do not know of any other elected officials who cannot be recalled by the voters.  The bill closely follows the present law allowing for recall of board members of fire protection districts. SB 978 Consent bill, hearing in House Committee April 8, voted out of committee “Do Pass” on April 10, will go to Rules Committee.  This bill has a good chance to pass this year.

7.    Legal Protection of Health Care Providers During a Large Scale Disaster -  HB 1609 (Cooper) {assigned to Health Policy}.  This effort is being led by DHSS with support from SAC, MAA & MEMSA.  One of the lessons learned in New Orleans is that attorneys will sue the medical professionals based on the “standard of care” related to a normal world and not the world in crisis.  This bill would recognize that the standard of care is different and thus help protect health care workers from lawsuits during a time of major crisis.  

8.    Volunteer Ambulance Staffing - SB 1044 (Stouffer), HB 2000 (McGhee). SB 1044 has had a hearing in the Senate. The bill would adjust staffing requirements for volunteer ambulance services. SB 1044 has passed in the Senate 31-0. It was heard in House Committee on April 9 and was heard in Rules Committee on April 14. The bill has a good chance to pass this year.

9.    Federal Reimbursement Allocation for Ambulances - HB 2346, (Rep. Rob Schaaf) would allow for the creation of a system to increase the federal reimbursement of Medicaid monies. This issue could be attached to two different bills in the House this next week.