Healthcare

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 31: Updating certain provisions of the Kansas dental practices act relating to dentist information requested by patients, in-person practice requirements in dental office using licensee's name, unprofessional conduct and patient complaints.

SB 31 requires dentists in Kansas to provide patients with basic information - including their full name, license number, and after-hours contact - upon request, with failure to do so subject to disciplinary action. The bill also prohibits agreements that limit a patient’s ability to file complaints with the dental board and eliminates a prior rule requiring dentists to be physically present in their offices at least 20% of the time when patients are being treated. These changes apply to all dental practices operating under the Kansas Dental Practices Act, aiming to improve transparency and reduce regulatory burdens.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dentists to provide patient information and protect complaint rights, enhancing transparency and accountability in dental care services.85% confidence

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 41: Adding advanced practice registered nurses to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act.

SB 41 amends Kansas law to include licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who practice as nurse-midwives or nurse anesthetists in the legal definition of "healthcare provider" under the Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act. This change directly affects APRNs by ensuring they qualify for professional liability insurance coverage required by the statute, which previously may have excluded them. The bill updates Section 40-3401 of Kansas Statutes to add specific language defining APRNs as eligible healthcare providers for insurance purposes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds APRNs to healthcare provider definition for insurance coverage, ensuring they qualify for required liability insurance, improving provider access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 3: Requiring the department of health and environment to audit hospital compliance with the lay caregiver act and report the results of such audit to the legislature.

SB 3 requires Kansas hospitals to comply with the Lay Caregiver Act, which ensures patients can designate a caregiver for help after leaving the hospital. Starting in 2026, the Department of Health and Environment must annually audit hospitals to verify they follow the Act’s requirements - like allowing patients to choose caregivers and providing discharge instructions to them - and report the results to legislative health committees by January 31 each year. This bill directly affects hospitals (as audited entities), patients (who can designate caregivers), and caregivers (who receive discharge information). The key mechanism is the mandatory annual audit and reporting process, not changes to the original Act’s patient and caregiver protections.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital compliance with patient caregiver designation rights and annual audits to protect post-discharge access and rights90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 19: Enacting the conscientious right to refuse act to prohibit discrimination against individuals who refuse medical care and creating a civil cause of action based on such discrimination and revoking the authority of the secretary of health and environment to quarantine individuals and impose associated penalties.

SB 19 prohibits discrimination against individuals who refuse certain medical treatments (such as vaccines, drugs, or gene therapies) based on conscience. It bans employers, schools, healthcare providers, and others from taking adverse actions like firing, denying services, or imposing fees due to such refusals. Individuals facing discrimination can sue for triple damages or $10,000, plus legal fees. The bill also revokes the health secretary’s authority to order quarantines and imposes penalties for violations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient right to refuse treatment without discrimination, aligning with patient rights in healthcare policy.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination for refusing medical treatments, allowing lawsuits for adverse actions like termination, directly protecting workers' rights in the workplace.95% confidence

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signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 271: Updating income eligibility requirements for the state children's health insurance program and requiring the Robert G. (Bob) Bethell joint committee on home and community based services and KanCare oversight hold meetings each quarter.

SB 271 updates Kansas' children's health insurance program (KCHIP) by raising the income eligibility threshold from 225% to 250% of the federal poverty level for children in households with incomes in 2010 and subsequent years. This change would directly affect low-income children in Kansas whose families earn between 225% and 250% of the federal poverty level, expanding coverage eligibility for these households. The bill also requires a minimum 8-month waiting period for children who previously had comprehensive health coverage (with exceptions for job loss or other specific coverage disruptions) before enrolling in KCHIP. The program remains subject to available funding and does not guarantee entitlement to coverage for all eligible children.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state health coverage eligibility, requiring increased budget allocation for KCHIP program, aligning with funding essential public services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands KCHIP eligibility from 225% to 250% FPL, increasing access to children's health coverage for low-income families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2203: Including children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder under the definition of other health impairment in the special education for exceptional children act.

HB 2203 amends Kansas special education law to include children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) under the definition of "other health impairment" in the Special Education for Exceptional Children Act. This change ensures children with FASD qualify for the same special education services, including individualized education programs (IEPs), that are currently available to children with other health impairments. The bill updates K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-3404 to explicitly add FASD to the list of qualifying conditions, removing previous exclusion. As a result, children with FASD in Kansas will now have access to necessary educational supports previously unavailable under the law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands special education access by including FASD under health impairment, ensuring IEP eligibility for affected children per amended K.S.A. 72-3404.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds FASD to 'other health impairment' definition, expanding special education access for health-related needs under healthcare topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 219: Imposing certain health insurance coverage requirements for screening and diagnostic examinations for breast cancer.

SB 219 requires most health insurance plans in Kansas to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations (including mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds) with no out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. It applies to individual and group health insurance policies delivered, renewed, or amended on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting Kansas residents with such coverage. Diagnostic exams cover evaluating abnormalities found during screening or detected otherwise, while supplemental exams screen high-risk individuals without current abnormalities. The bill repeals prior insurance coverage restrictions and mandates full coverage without deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for these specific services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for breast cancer screenings (mammograms, MRIs) in insurance plans, expanding patient access to preventive care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2383: Requiring the Kansas children's cabinet and the department of health and environment to implement a pilot program to offer health services, telehealth consultations and medication reimbursements to child care providers, while prohibiting stricter local regulations, allowing local registration of providers, increasing state funding for the child and adult care food program and providing free training and education materials to providers.

HB 2383 creates a state-funded pilot program offering health services, telehealth consultations, and up to $100 monthly medication reimbursements to licensed Kansas child care providers (including family homes, daycares, and centers). It prohibits cities and counties from imposing stricter regulations than state law on child care facilities, while requiring the health department to share provider lists with local governments upon request. The bill also matches state funding for child care providers in the federal child and adult care food program’s top reimbursement tier and provides free training materials that count toward continuing education requirements. These changes directly affect child care providers, local governments, and state agencies administering health and child care programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds health services/telehealth for child care providers via state pilot program, includes medication reimbursements, prohibits restrictive local rules - directly expands access and funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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passed · Kansas · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2366: Expanding the scope of practice of naturopathic doctors, specifying continuing education requirements, increasing the required amount of professional liability insurance and modifying certain provisions relating to the licensure and regulations of naturopathic doctors.

HB 2366 expands the scope of practice for licensed naturopathic doctors in Kansas, allowing them to order diagnostic imaging (like X-rays and ultrasounds, but requiring referral to a licensed professional for interpretation), prescribe certain prescription drugs and testosterone, and provide prenatal care. The bill also mandates that naturopathic doctors document prescriptions in writing, maintain appropriate training for prescribed treatments, and register with the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe controlled substances. It prohibits naturopathic doctors from performing surgery, administering anesthesia, interpreting diagnostic imaging, or conducting pregnancy terminations. Additionally, the bill specifies new continuing education requirements and increases the minimum professional liability insurance amount required for licensure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands naturopathic doctors' scope to order imaging, prescribe drugs, and provide prenatal care, increasing patient access to alternative healthcare services with safety documentation requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Women's Health

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2157: Expanding pharmacist's scope of practice to include point-of-care testing for and treatment of COVID-19.

HB 2157 expands Kansas pharmacists' scope of practice to include point-of-care testing for and treatment of COVID-19, directly affecting pharmacists and patients seeking immediate care for this condition. The bill amends Kansas law to add "COVID-19" to the list of conditions where pharmacists may initiate therapy under statewide protocols established by the collaborative drug therapy management advisory committee. These protocols must specify required training, documentation standards, patient assessment tools, and communication with primary care providers. The change takes effect July 1, 2022, and requires pharmacists to operate within these new framework guidelines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' ability to test/treat COVID-19, improving patient access to immediate care for a public health issue.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Primary Care

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