Senate Passes Reform Legislation
It was another very busy (and somewhat sleep-deprived) week in the Missouri Senate. On Tuesday evening, my colleagues and I spent more than 13 hours debating legislation that will restore fairness to personal injury litigation and help reduce the cost of insurance for doctors and businesses. Perfected by the Senate around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Senate Bill 847 establishes that the appropriate recovery for medical expenses is the amount actually paid for medical expenses rather than the value.
In 2005, the Missouri General Assembly passed a comprehensive tort reform measure. One provision sought to fairly compensate injured parties for their medical bills. The intent was to allow injured parties to recover the actual cost of their treatment, not the value; unfortunately, the courts have since misinterpreted the intent of that provision and the definition of “value.” This has resulted in plaintiffs seeking compensation for medical bills they never had to pay. Senate Bill 847 further clarifies the 2005 law and returns the statute to its original intended purpose by adding the definition of “actual cost.” Missouri’s citizens, health care community and businesses all want a more balanced and consistent legal system. As such, passing SB 847 was a priority for us, and I am pleased we were able to move it forward.
For years now, state lawmakers have attempted to pass various ethics reform measures, but have been unable to find a majority consensus on the best approach. This session, however, there has been a renewed energy in the effort to raise ethical standards in Missouri. On Thursday, the Senate passed House Bill 1979, legislation prohibiting members of the General Assembly and statewide elected officials from registering as a lobbyist before the end of the full-term they were elected to serve. Since the Senate made changes to HB 1979, the measure will now go back to the House for their approval.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other matter regarding your state government, please feel free to contact me at (573) 751-1503; you are also welcome to e-mail me at jay.wasson@senate.mo.gov.