April 26, 2010

The Missouri General Assembly is gradually winding down on the 2010 session to the May 14th adjournment.

Once again budget dominates all action in the House and Senate.

The conference committees have been named to confer on the House and Senate versions of the budget.

Total cuts after the Senate finished last week stand at $500 million. This is $300 million more than was cut by the House. Consequently, there is going to be a great deal of discussion.

Sources indicate that the chairs of the House Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee have already made many of the decisions. In addition on Thursday afternoon the Governor announced cuts of $45 million additional dollars from this year’s 2010 budget. Cuts for the budget passed last session are over $900 million YTD and the state still has May and June. April collections were down 19%.

News this week includes:

Core Public Health $
As reported earlier the $307,000 we put back into local public has remained.

This brings the funding to $9.018 million and the same as 2009. One of the very few success stories in the budget.

Youth Smoking
HB 2010 has $200,000 recommended for youth tobacco prevention by the House.

The senate deleted that provision. It will be addressed Monday. However, the conference committee is taking the Senate position on virtually all line items.

Disciplinary Actions
Senate Bill 1022 was given initial approval by the Senate on Thursday.

The bill requires employers to check the license status of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses.

The act also adds home health agencies, nursing homes, nursing facilities, and any entity that employs or contracts with licensed health care professionals to provide healthcare services to individuals to the list of entities that are required to report to professional licensing authorities when disciplinary action is taken against a health care professional, or when the health care professional resigns while there are pending complaints that might have led to disciplinary action.

Civil False Claims
SB 639 was brought up for debate on Wednesday. This civil false claims legislation is modeled on federal law.

Numerous provider groups have serious reservations on this legislation.

The bill provides that any person may bring an action for MO HealthNet fraud on behalf of the person and the state. The person bringing the action must give a copy of the petition to the attorney general, and must also disclose to the attorney general all material information in the person’s possession. The petition shall be filed in camera, and shall remain under seal for at least 60 days, or until the state elects to intervene, whichever occurs first. Service of the petition shall not be made on the defendant until ordered by the court.

On behalf of the state, the attorney general may elect to intervene and proceed with the action, not later than 60 days after the date the attorney general received the petition and information. This deadline may be extended for good cause shown. This legislation is not needed and wil present problems with disgruntled recipients.

Expedited Partner Therapy
HB 1375 was voted out of Senate Health on Tuesday morning.

Senator Justus added her information allowing pamphlets on HPV to be distributed to schools.

DHSS will attempt an amendment on the floor to move responsibility of commitment for TB patients to DHSS. Current law places that responsibility with the MU Board of Curators.

Next Week
The Missouri General Assembly is down to three more full weeks. The budget will be discussed in committee and votes will take place the following week.

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