March 5, 2026

Help MHA Recognize #MoHospitals CHAMPIONS OF CARE!

Healthcare is powered by people. Behind every patient story is a nurse who stayed late, a housekeeper who ensured a safe space to heal, a therapist who encouraged one more step, a technician who caught something critical, a leader who removed barriers so care could happen.

Missouri’s hospitals are filled with individuals and teams whose compassion and commitment shape the health of our communities every single day.

Now it’s time to recognize them.

In celebration of National Nurses Week (May 5-12) and National Hospital Week (May 10-16), the Missouri Hospital Association is accepting nominations for the 2026 Champions of Care.

Nominate an individual or team who exemplifies excellence, compassion and dedication to patient care. Share their story and help us celebrate the difference they make.

NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY!

The nomination period closes Friday, March 27. The winners will be selected by a majority vote from MHA staff with nominee identities kept anonymous. Recognition of winners will occur throughout May in the following ways:

• Special feature in MHA newsletters, website and social media,
• Personalized certificate of appreciation, and
• A Champions of Care celebration package, courtesy of MHA

Click Here to Nominate Your Champion Today

March 3, 2026

HRSA Requests Feedback on 340B Rebate Model Pilot, Comment by April 20

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issue a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit stakeholder input regarding the potential use of rebates to effectuate the ceiling price under the 340B Program, including the standards and procedures that should govern the approval of manufacturer rebate plans and the impacts on all stakeholders.

This RFI seeks comments on whether HRSA should implement a rebate model under the 340B Program and how best to operationalize any such rebate framework for stakeholders. The information collected through this RFI will assist HRSA in evaluating the operational, financial, and drug access for patients of a rebate model on covered entities, manufacturers, and other stakeholders across the drug supply chain.

To provide stakeholders additional time to submit meaningful comments for HRSA’s review in evaluating operational, financial, and potential impacts on access to drugs for patients under a rebate model, HRSA has extended the comment period from 30 days to 60 days. Feedback on the RFI is due no later than April 20, 2026.

In addition, in compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction Act, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of the Information Collection Request (ICR), related to a potential 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program.

Comments on this ICR should be received no later than April 27, 2026.

Click Here to Learn More and Comment on 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program,- April 20 deadline

Click Here to Learn More and Comment on Agency Information Collection Activities, April 27 deadline

January 27, 2026

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Recall Alert

Abbott has initiated a medical device correction for certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and Free

Style Libre 3 Plus sensors in the United States after internal testing determined that some sensors may provide incorrect low glucose readings.

If undetected, incorrect low glucose readings over an extended period may lead to incorrect treatment decisions for people living with diabetes, such as excessive carbohydrate intake or skipping or delaying insulin doses. These decisions may pose serious health risks, including potential injury or death, or other less serious complications.

Abbott has identified and resolved the cause of the issue, which relates to one production line among several that make Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors to fulfill replacement and new orders and does not expect significant supply disruptions.

This action involves approximately 3 million Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors in the U.S. from that production line, about half of which are estimated to have expired or been used. Globally, Abbott has received reports of 736 severe events (57 in the U.S.) and seven deaths (none in the U.S.) potentially associated with this issue.

Important Instructions for People Using Libre 3 or Libre 3 Plus Sensors:

• Consumers should visit https://www.freestylecheck.com/us-en/home.html to confirm whether their sensor is potentially affected by this medical device correction.
  • Abbott will replace any potentially affected sensors at no charge.
  • Detailed instructions on how to check sensors and request a replacement are available on https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/website-policies/website-disclaimer
• If consumers are currently wearing or have a sensor that has been confirmed as potentially impacted on https://www.freestylecheck.com/us-en/home.html or by a customer service representative, they should immediately discontinue use and dispose of it.
• Consumers should use a blood glucose meter or the built-in meter in the FreeStyle Libre 3 reader to make treatment decisions when sensor readings don’t match symptoms or expectations.
• To learn more or get help with questions, visit https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/website-policies/website-disclaimer or call Abbott’s customer service at 1-833-815-4273, available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Agents are available 24/7 through live chat at https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/support/contact-us.html.
• FreeStyle Libre 3 readers and mobile apps are not impacted.
• Additionally, no other Libre products (FreeStyle Libre 14 day, FreeStyle Libre 2, FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus, or Libre Pro sensors) or Abbott biowearables are impacted.

Abbott is issuing this medical device correction in other affected countries where Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors are distributed.

Consumers in other countries can also visit https://www.freestylecheck.com/us-en/home.html for more information.

January 14, 2026

Missouri Nurses Association Expands Membership to Licensed Practical Nurses in Historic First

In a historic milestone marking the first membership expansion in its more than 100-year history, the Missouri Nurses Association, (MONA) announced that it will begin welcoming Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) as members effective January 1, 2026.

Founded over a century ago, MONA has long served as the professional voice for nursing in Missouri, advocating for nurses, patients, and the nursing profession at the state level. This expansion reflects MONA’s commitment to strengthening nursing advocacy by bringing nurses across roles and practice settings together under a unified voice.

“Advocacy is strongest when nurses stand together,” said Jill Kliethermes, Executive Director of the Missouri Nurses Association. “Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role in healthcare delivery across Missouri, and welcoming LPNs into MONA strengthens our collective voice as we advocate for policies that impact nurses and the patients they serve.”

As LPN members, participants will have access to state-level advocacy and engagement opportunities, select educational programs and events, and member savings and benefits offered through MONA. While LPN membership does not include American Nurses Association (ANA) membership benefits currently, the expansion ensures that LPN perspectives are represented in conversations affecting nursing practice, workforce issues, and healthcare policy in Missouri.

The decision comes at a time when healthcare systems nationwide are navigating workforce challenges and evolving care models. MONA’s leadership emphasized that expanding membership reflects both the realities of modern nursing and the organization’s mission to advance the profession through inclusion, advocacy, and collaboration.

“This is an important evolution for MONA,” Kliethermes added. “For more than 100 years, we have adapted to meet the needs of nurses and patients. Welcoming LPNs as members reinforces our commitment to representing nursing as a profession and ensuring that nurses’ voices are heard at the Capitol.”

Annual Dues: $72 per year

Click Here to learn More and Join

September 9, 2025

GOP Lawmakers Uphold NIH Funding: 5 Federal Health Updates

The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee has released a spending bill for 2026 that quietly ignores an $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health that President Donald Trump proposed earlier this year.

The proposed budget bill, released September 2, calls for $48 billion in NIH funding for fiscal 2026, which would keep funding levels for the agency in line with what it has received in the last few years. The bill stands in opposition to the 40% cut President Trump outlined for the NIH in a budget proposal released in June.

In a fact sheet on the bill, House Appropriations Committee members wrote that providing $48 billion in NIH funding will “maintain America’s edge in basic biomedical research cures to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and rare diseases and supports the Trump administration’s priority of increasing research for other chronic diseases impacting Americans.”

The bill, however, does call for a $7 billion budget cut to HHS, which is about 6% less than 2025 levels. It proposes a 19% cut to the CDC “and streamlining 35 duplicative and controversial programs,” positioning the agency to focus solely on infectious disease. It would also eliminate the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The proposal puts several billion in funding toward primary care, the healthcare workforce and rural health.

Click Here to Read Four More Updates