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Senate adopts amendment to require private plans to cover home blood-pressure monitors for pregnancy
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Summary
Senate adopted a floor amendment to require health benefit plans that cover maternity benefits to provide a home blood-pressure monitoring device for pregnant and postpartum people; supporters said MoHealthNet already covers such devices and that the upfront cost is low.
The Missouri Senate adopted an amendment requiring health plans that provide maternity benefits to cover a home blood-pressure monitoring device for pregnant and postpartum people. Senator from Clay offered the amendment, citing Missouri’s elevated maternal mortality rates and saying that remote monitoring can detect elevated blood pressure and preeclampsia early.
The sponsor noted Missouri Health Net already covers an annual monitoring program and that the out-of-pocket cost for at-home monitoring and training is modest — about $60, according to testimony during the floor discussion. Supporters said covering the device for people on private plans would extend a low-cost, evidence‑based practice proven to reduce severe pregnancy complications.
The amendment was discussed alongside other healthcare and licensure changes and was adopted during floor action. The change directs insurers offering maternity coverage to include the device and related education as a covered benefit; implementation details were left to the insurance regulator and plan contracts.
Next steps: amendment adopted on the Senate floor as part of the package; implementing guidance expected from the Division of Commerce and Insurance and from affected carriers.