Senate Bill 1602 is intended to provide MU Health Care with the benefit of a legal doctrine known as “state action immunity.” This doctrine would reduce antitrust uncertainty and allow MU Health Care to more quickly collaborate with health care providers within its 25-county service area. The goal is to create flexibility so partnerships can move forward in a timely manner to stabilize services and preserve long-term access to local care for Missouri communities.

The need for this legislation is driven by the rapidly changing health care landscape in Missouri and the very real challenges facing hospitals across our state. Over the past decade, more than 20 hospitals have closed in Missouri, leaving many residents without local access to care. Four of those closures occurred in central Missouri — including Boonville, Fulton, Mexico and Sweet Springs — in just the past six years. These closures highlight the growing risk many communities face and the importance of acting before hospitals reach the point of no return.

Opponents of this legislation have suggested it will create a monopoly and reduce competition. In reality, SB 1602 does not require hospitals to partner with MU Health Care, nor does it prevent other health systems from operating in the region. It does not use taxpayer dollars or reduce oversight. Instead, the bill provides clarity so that when communities seek help, MU Health Care can respond quickly to stabilize services before a closure occurs.

Ultimately, the choice facing many communities is not between competition and consolidation — it is between preserving local care or losing it. At its core, SB 1602 is about protecting patients, supporting communities and preserving access to care across Missouri.

Please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-4302. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate. mo.gov/KurtisGregory.