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Lewis sends slate of health care bills to governor’s desk

Postpartum care extension, expanded number of residencies among provisions she sponsored
State Rep. Patty Lewis (MHDC)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State Rep. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, celebrated the passage of several health care bills at the end of the 2023 legislative session last week, Language from four of her bills were attached to other pieces of legislation that reached Gov. Mike Parson’s desk before the constitutional deadline.

 

Among her successes, none was more significant than her contribution to bipartisan language that will extend postpartum MOHealthNet benefits from 60 days after birth to one year.

 

“Extending coverage for new mothers to one year after giving birth is the number one thing we can do from a policy perspective to combat Missouri’s unforgivably high maternal mortality rate,” Lewis said.

 

The language passed in state Sen. Lauren Arthur’s Senate Bill 106, and state Sens. Elaine Gannon and Tracy McCreery’s Senate Bill 45 and 90. State Reps. LaKeySha Bosley, Bishop Davidson, Melanie Stinnett and Brad Pollitt also passed a House version of this bill.

 

Lewis’ House Bill 1179, which increases the number of primary care and psychiatry residents across the state, also made it onto SB 106, as well as HB 417, offered by state Rep. Mike Henderson. She worked closely with Stinnett on that language alongside state Reps. Betsy Fogle and Kent Haden.

 

Two other bills removed burdensome regulations that made it more difficult for health care professionals to provide their care and expertise in Missouri. In Henderson’s HB 402 and state Sen. Travis Fitzwater’s SB 70, she worked on language that provides advanced practice registered nurses with a greater degree of freedom in how and where they practice care. Under Lewis’ language, mileage proximity requirements for the APRN and collaborating physician are removed as well as the one-month preceptorship period is waived if the APRN is serving the same population under a new collaborating practice agreement.

 

Additionally in SB 70, Lewis’ HB 285 adds Missouri to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which provides an expedited license to any physician who meets the eligibility requirements from another state in the compact.

 

“Empowering our health care providers to do their jobs will only improve public health in Missouri,” Lewis said. “I am thrilled the General Assembly cut so much red tape this session that has tied the hands of our physicians and nurses for too long.” 

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