LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN THE STATE CAPITOL
This week, my colleagues and I began discussing the 13 appropriation bills that make up the state’s operating budget. These bills contain budget requests of our state agencies and departments and allow them to provide necessary resources and services to all Missourians. Every legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly is required, under the state constitution, to pass a balanced budget.
This year, our deadline to pass the budget is May 10.
In addition to discussing our state’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget, we also reviewed other legislative proposals that are moving through the General Assembly.
Senate Bill 70 & 128 is a bill that modifies state laws relating to consumer-directed services in the MO HealthNet program. Included in the bill is language of my Senate Bill 435. Under this act, hospitals are not required to comply with infectious data reporting requirements under current state law if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also requires the submission of such data. The Department shall post a link on its website to CMS’s website where the data is reported. Additionally, it requires that hospitals establish an antimicrobial stewardship program and that they should meet the National Healthcare Safety Network requirements for reporting antimicrobial usage or resistance when such reporting become effective. Nothing should prohibit a hospital from voluntarily reporting the data prior to the effective date.
House Bill 612 transfers the Missouri State Council on the Arts to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. This proposal codifies an executive order signed by the governor to completely restructure and consolidate the Department of Economic Development. This bill was truly agreed and truly passed by the General Assembly and now heads to the governor’s desk for his consideration.
House Bill 397 is a proposal that modifies state law regarding the protection of children from sex trafficking. It would be a defense against a charge of prostitution if the defendant is under the age of 18 and there is evidence that they were coerced into the act. Such a defendant would be classified as a victim of abuse. In addition, the legislation allows for an individual found guilty of prostitution in the past to apply for expungement if they were under the age of 18 when the crime occurred and there is evidence that they were coerced into committing the crime. Following Senate approval, this legislation now returns to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration.
As a health care advocate, I recently filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 27. This proposal designates November 2019 as Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Awareness Month. Research shows that these illnesses are leading causes of death across our nation, with cardiovascular disease ranking at No. 1 and diabetes ranking No. 7. Cardiovascular disease causes 68 percent, or more than two out of every three deaths in people with Type 2 diabetes in the United States. Health care costs for the treatment of diabetes were reported to be approximately $245 billion dollars annually. I believe it is important to promote awareness and encourage education about the risks associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
