Tony Harbison — Said people may be expected to buy the prescribed medication themselves if insurance will not cover it, and noted the cost of his family's insurance.
Tony Harbison — Said his family's insurance cost $3,000 per month and that the expense forced a switch to state coverage.
Tony Harbison — Said the family expected coverage for non-addictive medication and described a gap between expectations and insurance coverage.
Tony Harbison — Said premiums, coinsurance, and deductibles made coverage difficult and emphasized frustration with the insurance gap.
Tony Harbison — Asked why insurance companies can override a doctor's preferred treatment.
Tony Harbison — Continues questioning the witness about how the bill affects cost sharing and formulary flexibility.
Tony Harbison — Representative Tony Harbison questioned the scope of the program, asking whether high-risk businesses are excluded and whether farmers are included, with the exchange concluding shortly after his inquiry.
George Hruza — George Hruza is listed during roll call, with the transcript showing minor spelling/recognition variations ('Haruza' and 'Hruza') as his name is called and corrected across the roll-call sequence.
Becky Laubinger — Becky Laubinger is repeatedly called during roll call, with the transcript rendering her name in slightly different spellings, indicating a single attendance-check moment rather than separate substantive discussions.
Pattie Mansur — Pattie Mansur is listed in the roll call and then recorded as voting aye on two subsequent votes during the same procedural sequence.
Tara Peters — Listed as present.
Tara Peters — Voted aye.
Tara Peters — Voted aye.
Tara Peters — Named as sponsor of one of the upcoming bills.
Tara Peters — Introduced as a state representative from District 122.
Tara Peters — Representative Sites is thanked for testimony; likely a transcription error for Representative Sites, who is not in the member list.
Tara Peters — Mentioned as a legislator the speaker has not yet spoken with about the legislation.
Tara Peters — Representative Tara Peters questioned whether the bill or proposal was essentially an expansion or similar version of the Farm Bureau plan, and the later mention simply referred back to that same comparison question.
Melissa Schmidt — Melissa Schmidt is referenced repeatedly during roll call as her name is listed and then called, including a follow-up uncertain call, all as part of the same attendance check.
Burt Whaley — Burt Whaley appears in the roll call, is called by name, and then responds 'Aye' to record his vote.
Jessica Petrie Telemark — Jessica Petrie Telemark testifies in support of the bill package on behalf of the Reach Healthcare Foundation and the National Association of Social Workers, Missouri Chapter, and continues by emphasizing the importance of immediate access to non-opioid alternatives for acute pain, arguing against coverage barriers that force patients into opioid-first treatment pathways.
unnamed witness — A witness supports the bill and says patient education is important so people know they have options.
Jacob Scott — Speaks for the Missouri State Medical Association in support of the bill and says prescribers need the full menu of options.
Lisa Panette — Speaks in support on behalf of Armour Vine, but says the bill should perhaps be expanded beyond opioids.
Alex Eaton — Represents PreventEd and supports the four pieces of legislation.
Maddie Lake Bay — Testifies in support on behalf of Assistive Recovery Centers of America.
Maddie Likwee — Identifies herself as representing Assistive Recovery Centers of America and supports the bill.
Hunter Atalemak — Represents Recovet Health Care in St. Louis and supports the bill, citing opioid addiction among wounded veterans.
Hampton Williams — Hampton Williams, representing the Missouri Insurance Coalition, testifies in opposition to the bill.
Shannon Cooper — Testified in opposition on behalf of America's Health Insurance Plans and said the organization agrees with about 90% of the bill.
Unidentified witness — The witness explained how insurers and physicians manage medication access and costs, describing prior authorization, step therapy, and formulary decisions for drugs with similar efficacy, while noting that opioids and other highly addictive medications are handled differently in acute pain situations. The witness then shifted to broader health coverage affordability, saying many Americans are facing higher marketplace premiums because enhanced federal tax credits were not renewed, which may force people to drop coverage and increase uncompensated care. The witness also emphasized that employers expect insurers to manage health care costs by favoring lower-cost drugs with the same efficacy and opposed mandates that raise insurance costs.
unidentified witness — Said one small business saved $10,000 a year by taking out the health insurance plan.
Gregg Bush — Gregg Bush is noted as present during roll call and is subsequently recorded voting aye on two votes.
Gregg Bush — Gregg Bush is called on and then begins questioning the bill, noting that opioids have legitimate medical uses and asking whether the legislation’s scope could be expanded to include non-pharmacological pain therapies.
Gregg Bush — The speaker corrects a misnaming of Gregg Bush, then thanks him and proceeds into the inquiry, indicating a single continuous exchange involving direct address to the member.
Gregg Bush — Gregg Bush questions the witness about whether the bill effectively limits physicians to one drug, arguing that the language removes employer flexibility and raises concerns about step therapy and treatment decisions. He then presses on whether health insurers ever actually see their costs go down, using the exchange to challenge the effectiveness of cost-control measures and the witness’s claims about rising costs.
Gregg Bush — The witness corrects herself after initially misnaming him and confirms his name is Bush.
LaKeySha Bosley — LaKeySha Bosley is mentioned repeatedly during roll call as her name is called/listed, indicating a single procedural attendance check.
Carolyn Caton — Listed as present; transcript says 'Katon,' corrected to Caton.
Bennie Cook — Bennie Cook is noted as present, identified as the sponsor of House Bill 1977, and later recorded voting aye twice during the meeting.
David Dolan — David Dolan is present during roll call and is repeatedly identified in the transcript under variant spellings ('Dolan,' 'Dolen,' 'Dullen,' 'Dahl'). He is recorded as present and votes aye when called.
Dave Griffith — Dave Griffith is repeatedly referenced during the meeting as part of roll call and voting, where he is listed, called, and recorded as voting aye. The sequence then shifts to his taking over the chair role, after which he acknowledges the chair.
Dave Griffith — Dave Griffith, as chair, responds to Representative Sites by supporting the idea that non-opioid alternatives should be tried first rather than jumping to opioids, and continues the same exchange in the same moment.
Dave Griffith — Representative Griffith inquired about the estimated cost savings for small businesses in the community, asking the presenter what those savings would be.
Tony Harbison — Tony Harbison is repeatedly called during roll call, confirms presence, and then records multiple aye votes as the roll call continues.
Tony Harbison — Representative Harbison is called on after questions open, and the speaker then thanks him for bringing the bill forward, creating one continuous moment focused on his role in introducing the legislation.
Tony Harbison — Questioned why insurance companies interfere when a physician and patient decide on the best treatment plan.
Tony Harbison — Argued that insurance companies should not override a physician's treatment plan and gave a personal example involving his mother.
Tony Harbison — Described his mother's chronic breathing issues and said insurance required multiple treatment plans before approving one.