HB 1526 -- Preventative and Primary Health Care Services

Sponsor:  Muckler

This bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services,
in consultation with the Department of Social Services, to create
a program which provides preventative and primary health care
services.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires the program to improve the health status of low-
income pregnant women, mothers, and children.  The program will
promote responsible sexual behavior by recipients of the program
by teaching abstinence and promoting childbirth over abortion;

(2)  Requires collaborative efforts by the directors of both
departments for the purpose of preparing a statewide needs
assessment which identifies health care services for pregnant
women, mothers, children, and infants up to one year of age;

(3)  Specifies the functions of the program which includes
assuring recipients of the availability of health care services,
providing family-centered and community-based coordinated health
care for children, and promoting the benefits of abstinence;

(4)  Requires grants or contractual arrangements made by the
program to give preference to agencies that promote abstinence;

(5)  Prohibits funds from being expended directly or indirectly
for abortion services.  Entities which are affiliated entities
can receive public funds if they are classified as independent
affiliates;

(6)  Prohibits entities that receive public funds from displaying
or distributing materials promoting abortion services;

(7)  Requires entities that provide counseling to pregnant women
and who receive public funds to only provide non-directive
pregnancy counseling;

(8)  Requires entities that receive public funds in connection
with the program to maintain records that demonstrate strict
compliance with program requirements;

(9)  Requires an independent audit of entities that receive
public funds in connection with the program to be conducted at
least once every three years.  If an entity that receives public
funds is affiliated with an entity that provides abortion
services, an audit must be conducted each year to ensure
compliance with program requirements; and

(10)  Includes exceptions for reimbursement to entities that
provide services that are required under federal Medicaid
regulations and certain services required under the federal
family planning program.

The provisions of the bill will expire six years from the
effective date.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:15 am