HB 2428 -- Missouri Health Policy Authority

Sponsor:  McClanahan

This bill establishes the Missouri Health Policy Authority within
the Department of Health and Senior Services beginning
September 1, 2010, to develop and maintain a coordinated health
policy agenda that combines effective purchasing and
administration of health care with health promotion oriented
public health strategies.  The authority will consist of 11 non-
legislative voting members including three members appointed by
the Speaker and one by the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives and three members appointed by the President Pro
Tem and one by the Minority Leader of the Senate, with all
members subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, and nine
non-voting ex-officio members.  An executive director will be
appointed by the authority, subject to Senate confirmation, to
administer and oversee the operations of the authority and will
receive a salary fixed by the authority and subject to approval
by the Governor.

The authority must:

(1)  Establish policies and adopt rules for the implementation
and administration of the powers, duties, and functions given to
it by law;

(2)  Be responsible for developing a statewide health policy
agenda and submit a report including recommendations for
implementation of the agenda to the General Assembly prior to the
beginning of the legislative session in 2011 and at the beginning
of each session thereafter;

(3)  Assume its powers, duties, and functions, subject to
appropriations;

(4)  Consult with the Department of Social Services to evaluate
the potential benefits of using coordinated care organizations
for certain MO HealthNet recipients;

(5)  Submit a funding plan with recommended legislation for its
powers, duties, and functions by January 1, 2011;

(6)  Assume operational and purchasing responsibility for certain
specified public programs beginning July 1, 2011;

(7)  Submit to the General Assembly recommendations and an
implementation plan for transferring additional Medicaid-funded
programs to the authority at the beginning of the 2012
legislative session;

(8)  Submit to the General Assembly recommendations and an
implementation plan for assuming the health care purchasing
functions for additional state agencies at the beginning of the
2013 legislative session;

(9)  Coordinate, beginning July 1, 2011, health care planning,
administration, and purchasing and the analysis of health care
data for certain public assistance programs administered by the
state;

(10)  Facilitate the development of a statewide health
information plan that includes the implementation of an
integrated electronic health information infrastructure for the
sharing of electronic health data among health care facilities
and professionals, public and private payers, and patients; and
beginning July 1, 2011, establish policies regarding the
integrated electronic health information infrastructure;

(11)  Facilitate consumer protections to ensure privacy and
security regarding the exchange of health information;

(12)  Be designated, beginning July 1, 2011, as the single state
agency with responsibility for supervising and administering the
state plan for medical assistance under the federal Social
Security Act and cooperate with the federal government on any
program providing financial assistance for medical services to
eligible individuals;

(13)  Have the power and authority to restructure any board,
commission, committee, task force, or other similar entity within
the Department of Health and Senior Services;

(14)  Advise the Governor and the legislature on all health
programs, policies, and plans under its authority;

(15)  Transfer, beginning July 1, 2011, from the Department of
Social Services to the authority the powers, duties, and
functions for the MO HealthNet Program, State Children's Health
Insurance Plan, Ticket to Work Program, the drug utilization
review, the federal Medicare Program, and the Missouri Medicaid
Program; and

(16)  Transfer to the authority, beginning July 1, 2011, all
department employees and officers who were employed by any of the
programs transferred to the authority.

The Office of Health Professions Workforce Planning is
established within the authority to address the shortages and
maldistribution of health care professionals; and the Office of
Inspector General is established within the authority to oversee,
audit, investigate, and complete performance reviews for all
state-purchased health insurance programs.

The bill also establishes the position of Missouri Chief Health
Officer within the Department of Health and Senior Services to be
appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate to advise the department on strategies to improve certain
health indicators affecting the state.  The officer must submit
an annual report to the Governor, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the President Pro Tem of the Senate by
January 31 identifying the current overall health of Missouri
citizens and any recommendations for improvements.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:14 pm