MASCA Defends Free Enterprise in Administrative Rules Process
Small businesses needs a voice in the rule making process to ensure low cost, high quality health care in Missouri By: David M Jackson Attention to detail often becomes more central to success when dealing with an issue or idea, rather than a tangible product or service. Historic American Author Louis L’Amour said “There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.” This can be applied to politics in the sense that many corporations, small businesses, and...
Read MoreBOHA Bill Passes with 24 Hours to Spare
By: David Jackson, MASCA lobbyist After drawing attention through a series of articles in the St. Louis Post Dispatch regarding lack of disciplinary powers and transparency within the Board of Healing Arts (BOHA), the legislature took it upon themselves to ensure BOHA had the necessary tools to stop providers who were a threat to patient safety. Despite the delayed filing of legislation, contested hearings, and heated floor debate, Rep. Ellen Brandom (R-Sikeston) and Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) were...
Read MoreGovernor Nixon Signs Cost Transparency Legislation
By: David Jackson, MASCA lobbyist In the final hours of the 2011 legislative session, Senator Rob Schaaf, M.D. (R-St. Joseph) was able to negotiate the passage of health care transparency legislation in Senate Bill 62. Under RSMo 376.1190, health insurers will be required to provide policy holders with specific cost information that includes deductibles, copayments, and any coinsurance that the individual would be responsible for paying. All of this information will be made available through a web-based...
Read MoreHow Do You Store Your Medical Records?
By David Jackson: The two physicians in the General Assembly, Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) and Rep. Keith Frederick (R-Rolla), are teaming up on an effort to ensure providers can be fairly reimbursed for the cost and labor used to retrieve medical records. The House Health Care Policy Committee heard HB 580 this week, which allows providers to charge a fee for medical records that are stored at an off-site location. Amendments are being drafted to cap the fee at $30 and increase other fees for copying and...
Read MoreLegislative Report for the Week of: February 25, 2011
Increasing ASC awareness on MASCA Day: We had twelve participants from MASCA travel to the Capitol on Tuesday for our annual lobby day, which turned out to be a great success. Members were introduced by Senate Pro-Tem Rob Mayer (R-Dexter) and were brought into the House chamber by Rep. Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff). We were able to visit the offices of everyone’s home legislators and distributed information to health care committees on the economic impact of ASCs in Missouri. We capped off the lobbying...
Read MoreSenate Bill to Utilize Web-Based Estimation System for Health Care Costs
By: Travis H Brown Senator Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) has filed Senate Bill 153 to increase transparency in health care costs through the utilization of web-based systems. This bill would require health carriers to establish web-based estimation systems so consumers can have better access to certain procedures. Specifically, under RSMo Chapter 376.475, Section 1, the language states “The estimates shall include related estimates of typically needed and expected ancillary costs such as those for radiology,...
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