HCS/SS/SB 742 - This act modifies provisions relating to health care. MEDICAL RADIATION SAFETY AWARENESS DAY (Section 9.179) This act designates March 27 of each years as Medical Radiation Safety Awareness Day in Missouri to educate and enhance the awareness of the benefits of radiographic medical procedures and the potential dangers of overexposure to radiation during diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy to reduce the frequency of adverse events and allow citizens to make informed decisions about their medical care. This provision is identical to HCS/HB 1490 (2012) and HB 1938 (2012). COPIES OF MEDICAL RECORDS (Section 191.227) This act modifies the provision of law allowing health care providers to condition the furnishing of medical records on the payment of a fee to cover costs of search and retrieval of such records, postage and notary services. This act updates the fee amount required under law to be updated annually based on the annual average inflation rate so that the search and retrieval amount shall not exceed $22.01 plus copying costs in an amount of 55 cents per page for the cost of supplies and labor. This act also provides that the records shall be furnished electronically upon payment of the search, retrieval and copying fees required under the law at the time of the request or 100 dollars total, whichever is less, if such person: -requests health records to be delivered electronically in a format of the health care provider's choice; -the health care provider stores such records completely in an electronic health record; and -the health care provider is capable of providing the requested records and affidavit, if requested, in an electronic format. PHARMACY INVENTORY REQUIREMENTS (Section 338.255) This act states that Missouri licensed pharmacies cannot be required to carry or maintain an inventory of any specific drug or device. This provision is identical to HB 1075 (2012). TRADING, SELLING OR PURCHASING OF LEGEND DRUGS TO OTHER PHARMACIES (Section 338.315 and 338.333) This act allows a pharmacy to sell, purchase, or trade prescription drugs to pharmacies not licensed in Missouri if the total dollar amount of the sales, purchases, or trades are in compliance with the rules of the Board of Pharmacy, but in no event exceed 5% of the pharmacy's total annual prescription drug sales. Pharmacies must establish and maintain inventories and records of all transactions regarding prescription drugs for two years. This information must be readily available upon request by the Board of Pharmacy. The Board is authorized to promulgate rules regarding these provisions. The Board of Pharmacy is authorized to promulgate rules allowing the distribution of drugs by out-of-state pharmacies in the event of an emergency or to alleviate a supply shortage. These provisions are identical to SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1563 (2012). CREDENTIALING OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS (Sections 376.1575, 376.1578, 376.1580) This act outlines the requirements for a health carrier to credential a health care practitioner within 90 days of receiving a completed application and to pay the practitioner for treatment services pending approval. "Credentialing" is defined as a health carrier's process of assessing and validating the qualifications of a practitioner to provide patient care services and act as a member of the health carrier's provider network. "Completed application" is defined as a practitioner's application to a health carrier that seeks such authorization for the practitioner to provide patient care services as a member of the health carrier's network and does not omit any information which is clearly required by the application form or the accompanying instructions. The ninety-day deadline established in this act shall not apply if the application or subsequent verification of information indicates that the practitioner has: (1) A history of behavioral disorders or other impairments affecting the practitioner's ability to practice, including but not limited to substance abuse; (2) Disciplinary actions against the practitioner's license to practice imposed by any state or territory or foreign jurisdiction; (3) Had the practitioner's hospital admitting or surgical privileges or other organizational credentials or authority to practice revoked, restricted, or suspended based on the practitioner's clinical performance; or (4) A judgment or judicial award against the practitioner arising from a medical malpractice liability lawsuit. The Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration shall establish a mechanism for reporting alleged violations of this act to the Department. A health carrier shall permit a practitioner to bill and be paid directly by the insurer for providing treatment services as of the date of receipt of the credentialing application to the enrollees of the health carrier while the credentialing application is under review except under specified limitations which are listed in the act. Some of the limitations include limiting the payment rate, refusing to list the practitioner in a directory or allowing a practitioner to be designated as an enrollee's primary care physician. Nothing in this act shall require a health carrier to pay for treatment services which are excluded from the health carrier's benefit plan. These provisions are substantially similar to HB 1490 (2012). ADRIANE CROUSE