SB 548 - This act modifies several provisions relating to health care, including: (1) ambulance district boards of directors; (2) ambulance district audits; (3) community paramedics; (4) the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services; (5) ambulance licenses; (6) sexually transmitted infections; (7) limits on the sale of over-the-counter drugs; (8) the administration of medication; (9) MO HealthNet hearing aids; (10) prenatal tests for certain diseases; (11) the practice of dentistry in correctional centers; and (12) the administration of certain vaccines. AMBULANCE DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS (Section 190.053) This act modifies training requirements for members of an ambulance district board of directors. Under this act, board members shall complete three hours of continuing education for each term of office. Failure to do so shall result in immediate disqualification and the office shall be vacant until filled. This provision is identical to provisions in SB 206 (2025), SCS/SB 1382 (2024), and SB 1340 (2024) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 225 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), and SCS/SB 317 (2025). AMBULANCE DISTRICT AUDITS (Section 190.076) Under this act, each ambulance district shall arrange for an audit of the district's records and accounts every three years by a certified public accountant. The audit shall be made available to the public on the district's website or otherwise freely available by other electronic means. This provision is identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 225 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 206 (2025), SCS/SB 1382 (2024), and SB 1340 (2024). COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS (Section 190.098) This act modifies provisions relating to certification of community paramedics and the provision of community paramedic services. Currently, community paramedics practice in accordance with protocols and supervisory standards of the ambulance service's medical director. Ambulance services that provide community paramedic services in another ambulance service area shall enter into a written contract to do so. This act repeals these provisions. Under this act, community paramedic services shall mean those services provided by an entity that employs licensed paramedics certified by the Department of Health and Senior Services as community paramedics for services that are provided in a nonemergent setting, consistent with the education and training of a community paramedic and the supervisory standard approved by the medical director, and documented in the entity's patient care plans or protocols. Any ambulance service that seeks to provide community paramedic services outside of its service area shall have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ambulance service of that area if that ambulance service is already providing those services or shall notify the ambulance services of that area if that ambulance service is not providing community paramedic services. Emergency medical response agencies (EMRA) may provide community paramedic services in a ground ambulance service's service area. If the ground ambulance service is already providing those services or provides them after the EMRA offers them, then the EMRA and ground ambulance service shall enter into a MOU for the coordination of services. The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of certifying community paramedic services entities and the standards necessary to provide such services. Certified entities shall be eligible to provide community paramedic services for 5 years. This provisions is identical to a provision in SB 206 (2025) and SCS/SB 1382 (2024) and similar to provisions in HCS/HB 943 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), and HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025). STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (Section 190.101) This act modifies the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services by changing the number of council members from 16 to no more than 23 and specifying the members who shall serve on the Council. Currently, members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under this act, the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, the regional EMS advisory committees, and the Time-Critical Diagnosis Advisory Committee shall appoint members. This provision is identical to SB 206 (2025), SB 270 (2025), SB 1277 (2024), and a provision in SCS/SB 1382 (2024) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 225 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), and HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025). AMBULANCE LICENSES (Sections 190.109, 190.112, and 190.166) The Department of Health and Seniors Services, as a part of regulating ground ambulance service licenses, shall promulgate rules regarding participation with regional emergency medical services advisory committees and ambulance service administrator qualifications. This act requires ambulance services to report to the Department individuals serving as ambulance service administrators. These administrators shall be required to complete training as described in the act. Finally, the Department may refuse to issue, deny renewal of, or suspend a license required for ground ambulance services or take other corrective actions for reasons specified in the act. If the Department makes a determination of insolvency or insufficiency of services, then the Department may require the license holder to submit and complete a corrective plan, as described in the act. The Department shall be required to provide notice of any determination of insolvency or insufficiency of services to persons and entities specified in the act. The Department shall immediately engage with other license holders in the area to determine how ground ambulance services may be provided to the affected area during the service disruption. Assisting license holders may be compensated for such assistance as described in the act. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 206 (2025), SB 1340 (2024), and SCS/SB 1382 (2024) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 225 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), and SCS/SB 317 (2025). SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (Section 191.648) Currently, a physician may utilize expedited partner therapy, meaning the practice of treating the sex partners of persons with chlamydia or gonorrhea without an intervening medical evaluation or professional prevention counseling, to prescribe and dispense medications for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea even without an established physician/patient relationship. Under this act, certain health care professionals may use expedited partner therapy and such therapy may be used for designated sexually transmitted infections beyond chlamydia and gonorrhea. This act repeals the requirement that antibiotic medications prescribed and dispensed through expedited partner therapy for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea be in pill form. This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected HCS/HB 2413 (2024), and SB 1445 (2024) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SB 79 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/SB 94 (2025), SCS/SB 178 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025), and HB 1879 (2024). LIMITS ON SALE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS (Sections 195.417 and 579.060) Current law prohibits the sale, purchase, or dispensation of ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine to the same individual in a twelve-month period in any total amount greater than 43.2 grams without a valid prescription. This act changes the total amount to 61.2 grams. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 143 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1659 (2024), and SCS/SB 1485 (2024) and similar to HB 2824 (2024). ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS (Sections 196.990 and 335.081) This act adds licensed long-term care facilities to the definition of "authorized entity" in current law permitting such entities to stock a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for use in an emergency. Additionally, the administration by technicians, nurses' aides, or their equivalent in long-term care facilities of epinephrine auto-injectors and subcutaneous injectable medications to treat diabetes shall not be prohibited by nurse licensing laws. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025), SB 783 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), and HCS/HB 2824 (2024) and similar to HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025). MO HEALTHNET HEARING AIDS (Section 208.152) Currently, reimbursable MO HealthNet services include hearing aids for eligible needy children, pregnant women, and blind persons. This act mandates MO HealthNet coverage of medically necessary cochlear implants and hearing instruments for all eligible participants. This provision is identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SB 79 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 419 (2025), and HCS/HBs 2626 & 1918 (2024) and substantially similar to SB 1443 (2024). PRENATAL TESTS FOR CERTAIN DISEASES (Section 210.030) Currently, a physician or other health care provider shall draw and test a pregnant woman's blood at or soon after her first prenatal examination, with her consent, for syphilis, hepatitis B, or other similar diseases. Under this act, the testing of the pregnant woman's blood shall also occur at the twenty-eighth week of her pregnancy. Additionally, the test shall include hepatitis C and HIV. If a mother tests positive for syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, the physician or other health care provider shall treat the mother in accordance with the most recent accepted medical practice. Current law requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to work in consultation with the Missouri Genetic Disease Advisory Committee to make rules pertaining to these blood tests. This act repeals the requirement to work with the Committee and requires that the tests be approved or accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 2413 (2024) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SB 79 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025), and SB 1260 (2024), and similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025) and SCS/SB 178 (2025). PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY IN CORRECTIONAL CENTERS (Section 332.081) Current law provides that no corporation shall practice dentistry unless that corporation is a nonprofit corporation or a professional corporation under Missouri law. This act provides that such provision shall not apply to entities contracted with the state to provide care in correctional centers. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 143 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1659 (2024), SB 1287 (2024), and HB 2280 (2024). ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN VACCINES (Section 338.010) This act provides that the practice of pharmacy shall include the ordering and administering of vaccines, except for the vaccine for chikungunya and those vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after January 1, 2025, instead those after January 1, 2023. This act is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 1455 (2024), SCS/HB 2280 (2024), and HB 2879 (2024). SARAH HASKINS