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SB 1672

SB 1672 - This act defines the "practice of medicine" as the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, operation, prescription, recommendation, prevention, cure, dispensing, or surgery for any human injury, disease, pain, deformity, defect, wound, fracture, infirmity, ailment, or physical or mental condition. This act further defines the practice of medicine to include: (1) Evaluating a patient, rendering a medical opinion, or providing testimony for any civil or criminal action; (2) The review, oversight, and rendering of health care decisions by a treating physician; (3) For consulting physicians or specialists who receive referrals, the initial examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and determination of appropriate treatment, which shall not be delegated to any person other than to another consulting physician or specialist; (4) Offering to examine, evaluate, diagnose, treat, operate, prescribe, recommend, prevent, dispense, or perform surgery; (5) Using certain designations as provided in the act indicating or implying that such person is licensed, willing, or able to practice the healing arts; or (6) Offering, conducting, enrolling, performing, or monitoring research involving human subjects unless approved by an institutional review board. Nothing in this act shall prohibit a licensed professional from performing some or all of the activities that may fall within the practice of medicine if the licensed professional is acting within his or her scope of authority, if the physician remains actively involved in the practice of medicine for each patient, and if the physician remains the primary and responsible party, which shall not be delegated to any other person. KATIE O'BRIEN

2026 Regular Session

Missouri SB 1672 designates physicians as the primary, responsible decision-makers in patient care, restricting delegation of core clinical duties by consultants and specialists.

Second Read and Referred S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1672

Summary of Missouri SB 1672 (2026)

Purpose and Intent

SB 1672 defines the term “practice of medicine” in Missouri and clarifies the scope and responsibilities associated with it. The bill aims to establish a comprehensive definition that encompasses clinical services, professional designations, and research activities, ensuring that physicians retain primary responsibility for patient care. It also sets conditions under which licensed professionals from other disciplines may perform related activities within their authority.

Key Provisions

  • Definition of the practice of medicine (334.011):
    The bill expands the conventional understanding to include:

    • Examination, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, operation, prescription, prevention, cure, dispensing, or surgery for any human injury, disease, pain, deformity, defect, wound, fracture, infirmity, ailment, or physical or mental condition.
    • Management of pregnancy and parturition.
    • Cosmetic surgery, whether compensated or not.

  • Specific activities included (subsections 1–6):
    1) Evaluating a patient or providing any form of medical opinion or testimony for civil/criminal actions, including documentation for proceedings.
    2) Review and oversight of health care decisions by a treating physician, based on the physician’s examination and treatment decisions, within applicable law.
    3) For consulting physicians or specialists who receive referrals: initial examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and determination of appropriate treatment or surgery; cannot delegate this primary responsibility to others except another consulting physician or specialist.
    4) Offering to examine, evaluate, diagnose, treat, operate, prescribe, recommend, prevent, dispense, or perform surgery.
    5) Use of professional designations (e.g., doctor, M.D., D.O., physician and surgeon) or any title that implies licensure or the ability to practice healing arts.
    6) Conducting or monitoring research involving human subjects only with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

  • Protection for licensed professionals (Section 2):
    Licensed professionals may perform activities within their statutory authority and scope, provided:

    • They remain within their scope of practice.
    • The physician remains actively involved in the practice of medicine for each patient.
    • The physician remains the primary and responsible party for the examination, evaluation, and determination of appropriate treatment or surgery; delegation of this primary responsibility is not permitted.

Who Is Affected

  • Physicians and surgeons: Primary focus; reaffirmed as the responsible party for patient care decisions.
  • Consulting physicians and specialists: Explicit requirement that initial examination/evaluation/diagnosis/treatment decisions for referred patients stay with the consulting physician or specialist and not be delegated.
  • Licensed professionals from other disciplines: Allowed to perform activities within their scope, provided the physician maintains primary responsibility and involvement.
  • Researchers involving human subjects: Research activities require IRB approval.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Bill status: Introduced in the 2026 Second Regular Session; referred to the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee after second read (as of April 16, 2026).
  • Effective date: Not specified in the text provided; typically, state bills include an effective date if enacted, which would be specified in the final enrolled version.

Potential Impact

  • Clarifies the boundaries between medical practice and other professional roles.
  • Strengthens accountability of physicians as the primary decision-makers in patient care.
  • Potentially restricts delegation of core clinical duties by consultants and specialists.
  • Provides explicit guidance on the use of professional designations and on physician involvement in patient care and research oversight.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as introduced and the action history up to April 16, 2026. For enactment, the final enrolled text and any amendments would provide definitive language and effective dates.

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

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