{ legislative & regulatory }


Session Recap T


by HALIE PAYNE


he 2025 Legislative Session officially ended May 16. The Missouri Legislature passed only 50 of the more than 3,000 policy


bills filed — a mere 1.5 percent of legisla- tion. The MDA saw some great appropria- tions items cross the finish line, while other priorities fell short due to the cooperation in the legislature breaking down during the last days, highlighted by a rare use of the “previous question” PQ motion in the Senate, leading to stalled legislation, tension and an early adjournment. Due to some unresolved issues from the breakdown in the final week, Governor Kehoe called a special session June 2, primarily to address disaster relief from the recent tornado and storm damage, funding for the Chiefs and Royals stadium renovations and funding for various projects from across the state which failed to be passed in the last two weeks of the regular session. Thank you to Jorgen Schlemeier, Nikki Strong and Grace Riley, with Gamble & Schlemeier (and the entire MDA lobby team), for representing the MDA in the halls of the Capitol for another successful legislative session. We look forward to a productive in- terim and getting priorities across the finish line in 2026.


MDA PRIORITIES


Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) — Representa- tive Kent Haden filed HB 439 and Senator Jill Carter filed SB 680, which was referred to the Senate Committee on Insurance and Banking. This legislation would require the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) to apply to dental plans in a manner similar to how it currently applies to medical plans. Key revisions from last session include excluding charitable contributions from the numerator when calculating the Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) and adding a penalty provision for delayed rebate payments to ensure timely compliance.


14 focus | SUMMER 2025 | ISSUE 2


Looking Ahead: As more states adopt DLR requirements, we can demonstrate to law- makers that these policies do not lead to higher premiums or cause insurers to exit the market. This evidence will help build support for further legislative action.


Appropriations —


• Medicaid Reimbursement Rates: The increased reimbursement rates for Missouri Dental Medicaid providers implemented in 2022 have been main- tained. Additionally, the FY26 budget includes an increase in reimbursement for general medical anesthesia codes to approximately 63 percent of the 50th percentile of the UCR rate. This increase came as a recommendation from MO HealthNet after collaborations with the MDA and other organizations noted the lack of opportunity for dental proce- dures in operating rooms due to the low reimbursement rate increase of medical general anesthesia.


• Elks Mobile Dental Services: Fund- ing was increased to $600,000 from $400,000 in the FY26 budget.


• Donated Dental Services: Funding was maintained at $180,000 in the FY26 budget.


MDA MONITORED LEGISLATION


Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensure Compact — We are in support through col- laboration of legislation to establish the Den- tist and Dental Hygienist Licensure Com- pact, which would allow licensed dentists and dental hygienists to practice across state lines without additional licensure require- ments. HB 56, sponsored by Representative Jeff Coleman, passed the House by a wide margin (140-8), while SB 327, sponsored by Senator Ben Brown, advanced through the Senate Committee on Emerging Issues


and Professional Registration. The compact language was also added to several omnibus bills. One of which, SB 61, was taken up for a final vote but eventually laid over after a filibuster started over the possibility of a PQ motion on Proposition A and Amendment 3 legislation. Due to this rarely used proce- dure in the Senate, tensions rose creating a gridlock for other legislation, including SB61, killing the bill.


Looking Ahead: While the outcome was not what we wanted, this bill received ample support. Next year we are optimistic of the Compact’s passage, as more states enter the Compact and seeing as the bill faced little opposition this year.


Proposition A Repeal — HB 567 was passed through the Missouri Legislature, effectively repealing the requirements of Proposition A, which was passed via ballot initiative in November 2024. Pending Governor Kehoe’s signature (which may happen by mid-July), the bill would not take effect until August 28, 2025. There are two key provisions of the bill affecting private sector employers.


• Repeal of Paid Sick Leave Mandate: The bill repeals RSMo 290.600 – 290.642, which currently requires the accrual of earned paid sick time for employees in Missouri. If you are an employer and had to change your sick leave policies, those will need to remain in effect at this time (until law is signed).


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