Legislative Session

The 2025 Missouri Legislative Session began January 8 and ended May 16. 

End of Session Updates 

Dental Related Appropriations

These were increased or maintained in the budget. Below is a recap.

  • Medicaid Reimbursement Rates: 2022’s increased reimbursement rates for Missouri dental Medicaid providers have been maintained, and an increase in general medical anesthesia codes to approximately 63% of the 50th percentile UCR that was approved in the FY26 budget.
  • Donated Dental Services: This funding was increased from $90,000 to $180,000 in the FY25 budget.
  • Elks Mobile Dental: Funding was maintained for the Elks Mobile van at $600,000 in the FY26 budget. The Elks Mobile van provides dental services to those with developmental disabilities or intellectual disability populations.

Dental Loss Ratio

  • Once more states start implementing a dental loss ratio and we can show legislators that (1) it does not raise premiums and (2) not every insurer leaves the state, we can really start seeing movement of our bills within the legislature.

Dental & Dental Hygiene Compacts

  • This bill was in numerous omnibus bills this session, however none of them cleared the finish line before the Senate adjourned early.

MDA Priorities

Dental Loss Ratio

The MDA has created a public relations/education campaign about DLR.

Click to read more

2025 Activity

  • HB439 sponsored by Rep. Kent Haden: Requires dental plans file with the Department of Commerce and Insurance a dental loss ratio report, as the term "dental loss ratio" is defined in the bill, for each calendar year during which the plan provided dental coverage containing the same information as required in the 2013 Federal Dental Loss Ratio Annual Reporting Form. 
    • Last action: 05/15/2025 - H - Referred to committee - House-Emerging Issues
  • SB680 sponsored by Sen. Jill Carter: Requires dental plans, as defined in the act, to submit certain data to the Department of Commerce and Insurance. Dental plans shall provide annual rebates to enrollees by August 1 of the year following the applicable plan year if the dental loss ratio, as defined in the act, for the plan year is less than 85%. 
    • Last action: 03/24/2025 - S - Referred to Committee - Senate-Insurance and Banking

In 2024, legislation was filed to establish a DLR in Missouri at 85% for both large and small group plans. Due to filing time, and the incredibly unproductive session, it saw little movement.

Enacting DLR legislation is a critical step to tempering the influence insurance companies have over how dentists serve their patients and run their practices. Setting minimum standards of transparency and consumer protection regarding how dental insurers spend patient premiums, as is standard in the medical industry, would go a long way toward improving patient access to the care they need from their dental provider. The Affordable Care Act established that major medical plans pay certain percentages of the collected premiums for medical care vs. administrative costs. For example, large group plans must spend at least 85% of their collected premiums on care delivered to patients and no more than 15% can be spent on administrative costs and profit. No such requirement exists for dental plans, which are considered “excepted benefits.” Click to read more from the ADA about DLR.

Oral Preventive Assistant

This session the MDA also is strategizing on the future of the Oral Preventive Assistant EFDA. The clinical testing of that pilot project commenced in December with sites reporting on outcomes for the next several months that will inform future progress.

  • Of related note, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) adopted the ADA-crafted Dental Access Model Act which consisted of three parts including, authorization of oral preventive assistants, based on a pilot program created by the MDA.
  • Not only does this provide validation for the MDA OPA EFDA model in Missouri to assist us when talking with lawmakers, but the model helps other states trying make workforce progress. 

Dental Budget Items

Outside of filing legislation, work is still being done to maintain Dental Medicaid reimbursement rates, as well as fix issues within the system to make it more efficient for providers to enroll and provide these services. Along with Medicaid appropriations, the MDA will be advocating for increased funding for Elks Mobile Dental Services and continued funding for the Donated Dental Services program.

Legislation We're Monitoring

Dental Compacts

End of Session Comments: This bill was in numerous omnibus bills this session, however none of them cleared the finish line before the Senate adjourned early.

2025 Activity (ADSO Filed Legislation)

  • HB56 sponsored by Rep. Jeff Coleman: Dentists and dental hygienists licensed in a state that are participating in the Interstate Compact can practice in other participating states without additional requirements. The bill also enhances the ability of participating states to protect the public health and safety and cooperate in regulating the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene. 
    • Last action: 04/17/2025 - S - Referred to committee - Senate-Emerging Issues and Professional Registration
  • SB327 sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown: This act establishes the Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact ("Compact"), which facilitates the interstate practice of dentistry and dental hygiene and provides for dentists and dental hygienists licensed in a participating state the ability to practice in other participating states. The Compact sets forth the requirements to be met in order for a state to join and the requirements for a dentist or dental hygienist to obtain and exercise the ability to practice in other participating states.
    • Last action: 04/01/2025 - S - Voted Do Pass - Senate-Emerging Issues and Professional Registration
  • SB7 sponsored by Sen. Mike Bernskoetter: DDH Compact was added to HCS/SS/SB7. This act modifies several provisions relating to health care, including: (1) This act modifies several provisions relating to health care, including: (1) hospital investments and service areas; (2) ephinephrine products; (3) emergency medical services; (4) patient medical records; (5) the "Missouri State Loan Repayment Program"; (6) sexually transmitted infections; (7) telehealth; (8) forensic examinations of victims of sexual offenses; (9) limits on the sale of over-the-counter drugs; (10) pseudoephedrine; (11) administration of medications; (12) MO HealthNet coverage of hearing-related devices; (13) prenatal tests for certain diseases; (14) food-born allergies; (15) the Missouri Emergency Response Commission; (16) license plates; (17) the practice of dentistry in correctional centers; (18) licensure of dentists and dental hygienists; (19) the administration of certain vaccines; (20) the "RX Cares for Missouri Program"; (21) clinical fellowships for speech-language pathologists and audiologists; (22) insurance coverage of self-administered hormonal contraceptives; (23) insurance coverage of alternatives to opioid drugs; (24) liability for care provided in an emergency; and (25) mammograms.
    • Last action: H - Scheduled for Committee Hearing - 05/08/2025, 9:45 AM - Conference Committee - SB 7, Senate Lounge; During the conference committee hearing, they discussed which provisions would be removed from the bill — DDH was not among them.
  • SB94 sponsored by Sen. Patty Lewis: DDH Compact was added to HCS/SB94. This act modifies provisions relating to telehealth services.
    • Last action: 05/15/2025 - H - Committee hearing cancelled - 5/15/25 - 12:00 pm - HR 5 - House-Legislative Review
  • SB61 sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown: Modifies provisions relating to professional licensing; DDH Compact was added to HCS SS SB 61.
    • Last action: 05/14/2025 - S - Placed on Informal Calendar
  • HB943 sponsored by Rep. Tara Peters: Modifies provisions relating to health care; DDH Compact was added to SCS HCS HB 943.
    • Last action: 05/05/2025 - S - Voted Do Pass as substituted - Senate-Families, Seniors and Health

In 2024, the American Dental Support Organization (ADSO) introduced the compact to the Missouri Legislature. Unfortunately, due to infighting between the Missouri Republican Party and the Freedom Caucus, the bill was unsuccessful. 

The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is a legally binding agreement among states that provides a pathway through which dentists and dental hygienists can obtain compact privileges which authorize practice in states where they are not licensed. A state must enact the compact model legislation through the state’s legislative process to join the Compact. Dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in one compact member state can practice in another participating state by obtaining a compact privilege. Click to learn more. The MDA will monitor this legislation and offer support as appropriate.