The Missouri House voted 116-21 Thursday to send a broad healthcare bill to Gov. Mike Kehoe that expands maternal care, increases contraceptive access, and strengthens childcare facility allergy policies. The Senate had approved the measure 26-5 on Wednesday, with Republicans casting the only votes against it.
Contraceptive Access and Women’s Health
The bill allows women with private insurance to obtain an annual supply of contraceptives rather than refilling at the pharmacy every few months—a policy already in place in a majority of states. According to the legislation, studies show this increased access and continuity can help prevent unintended pregnancy. The bill also requires insurance to cover blood pressure monitoring equipment for pregnant and postpartum mothers, addressing one of the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri. Rep. Tara Peters of Rolla, who sponsored the legislation after four years of unsuccessful attempts, said healthcare “literally affects every single person.”
Maternal Health Initiatives
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 by the state. The bill expands the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board’s duties to study the state’s maternal healthcare deserts, track prenatal and postnatal care, and make recommendations to combat racial inequities in maternal deaths. Additionally, the legislation expands doula services for low-income Medicaid families from six to 16 visits covering pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and lactation support. Insurance coverage through Show-Me Healthy Babies, the state’s Medicaid program for pregnancy and postpartum, will now include childbirth education classes.
Other Provisions and Removals
The bill requires licensed childcare facilities to maintain allergy treatment policies and mandates the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to report and track alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to mammal products. A Senate amendment limits blood test result disclosure to patients and their doctors. The Senate removed provisions that would have made a “Food is Medicine” program mandatory and barred insurers from denying coverage of prescribed non-opioid drugs in favor of opioids. The Senate also eliminated proposed restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers that would have limited audits and required reimbursement based on prevailing market value.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://missouriindependent.com/2026/05/14/healthcare-bill-expanding-maternal-care-contraception-access-heads-to-missouri-governor