The Missouri legislature has passed a wide-ranging healthcare bill expanding women’s and maternal health coverage, increasing telehealth access, and requiring licensed childcare facilities to maintain allergy treatment policies. The House voted 116-21 to send the legislation to Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday, May 14, following Senate passage 26-5 on Wednesday, May 13.
The bill enables women with private insurance to obtain an annual supply of contraceptives rather than visiting the pharmacy every few months—a policy already law in a majority of states. Studies show increased access and continuity help prevent unintended pregnancy. The legislation also requires insurance to cover blood pressure monitoring equipment for pregnant and postpartum mothers. An additional provision prohibits discriminatory drug reimbursement practices against hospitals participating in the federal 340B program, which requires drug manufacturers to sell medications at a discount to nonprofit hospitals serving uninsured and low-income patients.
The bill requires the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to track cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to mammal products that can be life-threatening. A Senate amendment addressing privacy concerns limits blood test result disclosure to patients and their doctors.
Maternal health remains a priority. On average, around 70 women die each year in Missouri during childbirth or in the first year postpartum, with 80% of those deaths deemed preventable. In Missouri, babies and mothers continue to die at higher rates than the national average, according to the March of Dimes. An amendment by state Sen. Barbara Washington expands the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board’s duties to study maternal healthcare deserts, track prenatal and postnatal care provided to women who die, and make recommendations to combat racial inequities in maternal deaths. Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, is among the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths.
The legislation expands doula services for low-income Medicaid-enrolled families from six to 16 visits, covering pregnancy, birth, postpartum and lactation support. It also expands insurance coverage through Show-Me Healthy Babies, the state’s Medicaid program for pregnancy and postpartum, to include childbirth education classes.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/15/missouri-house-passes-healthcare-bill/90103108007/