Non-compete laws · MO

Missouri physician non-compete law

As of October 21, 2026, Missouri has no statute specific to physician non-competes; general non-compete law and court decisions apply.

No physician-specific statuteChecked 2026-10-21 · medium confidence

No physician-specific statute. Non-competes are governed by common law and are generally enforceable if reasonable in time and area and needed to protect trade secrets or customer (patient) contacts. RSMo 431.202 separately governs employee non-solicitation covenants. (RSMo § 431.202 (employee non-solicitation covenants; L. 2001 S.B. 288))

Who it covers

All employees under common law; no physician- or clinician-specific statute. RSMo 431.202 covers employee non-solicitation/no-hire covenants, not non-competes.

Notes

Case law (e.g., Healthcare Services of the Ozarks v. Copeland, 2006) is summarized from secondary sources. RSMo 431.202 states that it does not affect the validity of noncompetes. 2026 physician bills (HB 2184, HB 2821, HB 2979) did not advance.

Bills that have not become law

Non-compete bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions that had not become law as of 2026-10-21, furthest along first. A bill that died has to be filed again to move in 2027. The 2027 session starts 2027-01-06 and ends 2027-05-14 (last day to pass bills; adjournment 2027-05-30).

  • HB 2979 (2026) · Physicians, some physicians

    Missouri Rural Doctors Act: bars nonprofit-employer physician noncompetes unless clinical, 1 year or less, 5 miles or less

    Committee action · Died. Referred to House Health and Mental Health 2026-03-03; public hearing completed 2026-03-12; no executive vote; died when session ended 2026-05-15

  • HB 2184 (2026) · Physicians

    Would prohibit enforcing noncompete clauses in physician employment contracts

    Introduced · Died. Prefiled 2025-12-04 (Rep. Ian Mackey); read second time 2026-01-08; referred to Emerging Issues 2026-05-15 (last day); died

  • HB 2821 (2026) · Physicians

    Would prohibit noncompete clauses in physician employment contracts

    Introduced · Died. Introduced 2026-01-07 (Rep. Jo Doll); read second time 2026-01-08; referred to Emerging Issues 2026-05-15; died

  • HB 448 (2025) · Physicians

    Would prohibit enforcing noncompete clauses in physician employment contracts (predecessor of HB 2184)

    Introduced · Died. Prefiled 2024-12-09 (Rep. Ian Mackey); read second time 2025-01-09; referred to Emerging Issues 2025-05-15; died

  • HB 913 (2025) · Physicians, some physicians

    Would restrict physician noncompetes with nonprofit employers (predecessor of HB 2979)

    Introduced · Died. Introduced 2025-01-15 (Rep. Bill Hardwick); referred to Emerging Issues 2025-05-15; died

  • SB 383 (2025) · Physicians

    Physician noncompetes enforceable only if clinical, non-nonprofit employer, 365 days or less and 50 miles or less

    Introduced · Died. Prefiled 2024-12-01 (Sen. Travis Fitzwater); second read, referred to Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration 2025-02-17; no hearing; died

Sources

Questions to ask about your contract

  • Is the radius measured from your practice site or from every location the employer owns?
  • Does the restriction apply if the employer terminates you without cause?
  • Is there a buyout, and how is the amount calculated?
  • What does your state's law say about physician non-competes?
Check a contract against Missouri lawAll states

Not legal advice. This page summarizes the law as written. Whether a particular agreement is enforceable depends on its wording, when it was signed and court decisions. Ask an attorney licensed in Missouri.