HB 1405 Summary

• Creates the Missouri Universal Health Assurance Program as a single publicly financed statewide health insurance program providing comprehensive health, mental health, and dental care services to all state residents regardless of preexisting conditions.

• Establishes a 23-member Board of Governors to administer the program, including healthcare professionals, consumers, low-income representatives, and ex officio directors from the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Social Services, and Mental Health.

• Implements a progressive health assurance tax on individual Missouri taxable income above $5,000, ranging from 1% to 5% depending on income level, with revenues deposited into the Missouri Health Care Trust Fund.

• Divides the state into six regional health planning districts with advisory councils to assist in developing comprehensive health plans, establishing fee schedules, and ensuring equitable geographic distribution of healthcare providers and services.

• Requires the Department of Social Services to apply for federal waivers under Medicare and Medicaid (Titles XVIII and XIX) within 30 days to consolidate all federal healthcare payments into the state trust fund, with program sections becoming effective upon federal waiver approval.