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SB 1737

SB 1737 - Health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after August 28, 2026, shall provide enrollees coverage for annual kidney function screening services. TAYLOR MIDDLETON

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Barbara Washington

Missouri bill requires health insurers to cover annual kidney function screenings without patient cost-sharing to enable early disease detection.

Second Read and Referred S Insurance and Banking Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1737

Legislative bill overview

SB 1737 establishes insurance coverage requirements for annual kidney function screenings in Missouri. The bill ensures that health insurance plans must cover these preventive screenings without requiring cost-sharing from patients, likely including tests that measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and other kidney health indicators.

Why is this important

Kidney disease often progresses silently without symptoms until significant damage occurs, making early detection critical for preventing end-stage renal disease and dialysis dependency. Removing financial barriers to annual screening can identify at-risk populations (those with diabetes, hypertension, or family history) earlier, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes. However, this mandate increases insurance costs, which may be passed to employers and consumers through higher premiums.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost allocation: Whether insurers, employers, or consumers should bear the expense of expanded preventive screening mandates
  • Medical necessity debate: Whether annual screening is evidence-based for all populations or should be targeted to high-risk groups only
  • Insurance market impacts: Whether mandated coverage could reduce insurer profit margins or lead to premium increases across the board

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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