House Insurance Committee advances House Bill 1894 after amendment on provider networks

The Missouri House Insurance Committee moved into executive session and voted to advance a committee substitute for House Bill 1894 after adopting an amendment clarifying insurer discretion over provider networks, the committee chair said.

The chair introduced a committee amendment described in the meeting as ending in ".01(h)" and said it had been distributed to members. "The point of this amendment is for more clarity that insurers are not forced to contract with every provider that wants to join," the chair said, explaining the change was worked out with the bill sponsor.

The chair said the amendment "protects plan providers to select and manage networks, and plans can still choose providers based on quality performance and effectiveness." He added that plans may deny participation "without credentials or quality."

With no additional discussion, the committee adopted House Committee Amendment 1 by voice vote, then rolled the amendment into a new committee substitute and adopted that substitute by voice vote.

The chair then moved that the house committee substitute for House Bill 1894 be voted "do pass." The clerk called the roll for a recorded vote; the chair announced the result as nine ayes and no nos and stated the house committee substitute for House Bill 1894 "do pass." The clerk recorded members present during roll call procedures.

The committee briefly noted that House Bill 3314 would be considered next week because Representative Henman is still working on a committee substitute for that bill. With no other business, the chair declared the committee adjourned.

The committee's action advances the substitute to the next stage of the legislative process; the transcript did not specify a scheduled date for further consideration by the full chamber or additional committee steps.