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Missouri House passes several health measures, including alpha‑gal reporting, a 'food as medicine' waiver and naloxone access in public buildings
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Summary
On April 1 the House passed HB 18 55 (add alpha‑gal syndrome to reportable conditions), HB 23 55 (MoHealthNet Food as Medicine waiver authority) and HB 31 13 (require naloxone availability in public buildings). Sponsors said the bills address public-health surveillance, nutrition-based interventions for Medicaid participants and overdose preparedness.
The Missouri House passed multiple health-related measures during its April 1 session, advancing surveillance, nutrition‑as‑care pilots and overdose preparedness.
Representative from Douglas County (HB 18 55) asked the House to add alpha‑gal syndrome — an allergy linked to tick bites — to the state’s reportable-condition framework so laboratories would report positive results to the Department of Health within seven days. The sponsor said Missouri ranks high in prevalence and that adding the condition would allow policymakers to track cases and target resources. Multiple members who said they or family members are affected urged support. The bill moved and passed on third reading.
The House also approved HCS for HB 23 55, the Missouri Health Net waiver measure to allow Food as Medicine pilot programs under MoHealthNet. The sponsor said the waiver would let the state apply for Medicaid waivers and prioritize community‑based organizations and local growers when implementing nutrition prescriptions. On the floor, one member raised concerns about added provisions related to "prescription micronutrient therapy" and the possible fiscal effect; supporters said the underlying bill increases access to community‑based nutrition interventions.
Separately, the House approved HCS for HB 31 13 to place naloxone (Narcan) in public buildings — paired with education and coordination — comparing naloxone placement to AED placement in public spaces. Sponsors and supporting members described naloxone as a proven, life‑saving medicine and urged its placement where public health response tools are kept. That bill also passed on third reading.
Floor debate on these measures varied from technical committee questions about surveillance and appropriations to substantive endorsement from members and affected constituents. Where votes were recorded in the House journal, each of the bills passed on recorded third‑reading tallies.
