Healthcare

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 291: Modifying certain provisions of the optometry law relating to scope of practice, definitions and credentialing requirements.

SB 291 modifies Kansas optometry law to clarify and expand the scope of practice for licensed optometrists. It permits optometrists to prescribe and dispense oral medications (not just topical drugs) for treating eye conditions like adult open-angle glaucoma, while explicitly prohibiting surgical procedures. The bill also adds specific definitions for terms like "adapt," "prescription," and "dispense," and allows licensed nurses and therapists to assist with low vision rehabilitation under supervision. These changes directly affect licensed optometrists in Kansas and their patients, streamlining care for certain eye conditions without altering surgical or anesthesia-related restrictions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrists' scope to prescribe oral medications for eye conditions, improving patient access to treatment without restricting coverage or funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2002: 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.

HB 2002 requires Kansas hospitals to comply with the Lay Caregiver Act, which mandates that hospitals help patients designate caregivers before discharge and provide them with discharge instructions and aftercare education. Starting in 2026, the Department of Health and Environment must annually audit hospitals for compliance with these requirements and report the results to the legislature’s Health and Human Services committees by January 31 each year. This bill directly affects hospitals (as the entities required to follow the act) and the legislature (as the recipient of audit findings). The key provision replaces the previous lack of enforcement with a mandatory, annual verification process to ensure hospitals are meeting caregiver-related obligations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnforces hospital compliance with caregiver designation and aftercare rules, strengthening patient rights under Lay Caregiver Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 284: Enacting the defense of drug delivery act to prohibit manufacturer interference relating to 340B drug distribution.

SB 284, the "Defense of Drug Delivery Act," prohibits drug manufacturers from restricting how 340B drugs are distributed to covered healthcare entities (like hospitals and clinics participating in the federal 340B drug pricing program). It specifically bans manufacturers from denying, limiting, or discriminating against the delivery of 340B drugs to these entities unless prohibited by federal law or state law. The bill also prevents manufacturers from requiring covered entities to share health information, claims data, or purchasing details unless voluntarily provided or legally mandated. This directly affects covered entities by ensuring they can access discounted drugs without manufacturer-imposed barriers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents drug manufacturers from restricting 340B drug distribution, ensuring covered healthcare entities maintain access to discounted medications under federal program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2025

SB 67: Substitute for SB 67 by Committee on Public Health and Welfare - Authorizing registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe, procure and administer drugs consistent with the registered nurse anesthetist's education and qualifications.

SB 67 expands the scope of practice for registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) in Kansas by allowing them to prescribe, procure, and administer drugs during anesthesia or pain management care, consistent with their education and qualifications. This directly affects RNAs, who previously could not prescribe drugs under most circumstances, though they must still operate under a physician or dentist's order for anesthesia services. The bill requires RNAs to register with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for controlled substances and prohibits prescribing for abortions. It repeals the existing law and replaces it with new provisions outlining RNA responsibilities and limitations during patient care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands RNAs' prescribing authority for anesthesia/pain management, improving patient access to care by removing prior physician oversight restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2280: Adding a citation to the code of federal regulations to the definition of veteran and disabled veteran and removing the active requirement from military service members for occupational licensure.

The bill title claims to address veteran licensure definitions, but the actual bill text (HB 2280) is unrelated to veterans. Instead, it amends Kansas emergency medical services statutes (K.S.A. 65-6112, 65-6149a, etc.) to: 1) Allow paramedics/EMTs to act under a healthcare professional's order, 2) Permit nonemergency ambulance services to operate less than 24/7, 3) Require AED registration with the EMS board. This directly affects EMS providers, ambulance services, and healthcare entities in Kansas. The title appears to be incorrect or mislabeled based on the provided text.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends EMS statutes to expand paramedic scope under healthcare orders and require AED registration, improving emergency medical services access and public health safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2249: Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care and establishing the south central regional mental health hospital.

HB 2249 allows eligible rural emergency hospitals in Kansas to convert up to 10 existing swing beds into skilled nursing facility beds without meeting full nursing facility construction standards. To qualify, a hospital must be currently licensed as a rural emergency hospital, have previously operated as a hospital, and have provided skilled nursing or swing bed services for at least one year without safety violations. The bill requires the Secretary for Aging and Disability Services to grant these physical environment waivers upon application. This change directly affects qualifying rural hospitals seeking to expand limited skilled nursing care capacity in their communities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables rural hospitals to provide skilled nursing care without full construction standards and establishes a regional mental health hospital, expanding access to healthcare services in underserved areas.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2039: Adding maternity center to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act, amending definitions in the Kansas credentialing act to provide that certain entities providing physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology are not home health agencies, clarifying that the authorized activities of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical responders may be authorized upon the order of a healthcare professional, permitting certain ambulance services to offer service for less than 24 hours per day, every day of the year, and requiring entities that control automated external defibrillators to register the device with the emergency medical services board.

HB 2039 amends Kansas law to clarify that physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology providers are not classified as home health agencies under the Kansas credentialing act. The bill adds maternity centers to the definition of healthcare provider for insurance purposes under the healthcare provider insurance availability act. It also permits certain ambulance services to operate fewer than 24 hours daily, requires entities controlling automated external defibrillators to register with the emergency medical services board, and clarifies that paramedics may provide services under a healthcare professional's authorization.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds maternity centers to healthcare provider definition for insurance coverage, clarifies therapy providers' classification to prevent coverage barriers, advancing access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

passed both · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2025

SB 250: Enacting the right to try for individualized treatments act to permit a manufacturer to make an individualized investigative treatment available to a requesting patient.

SB 250 allows manufacturers to provide personalized experimental treatments based on a patient's genetic profile to individuals with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses who have exhausted all FDA-approved options. It requires patients to receive detailed written consent from their physician outlining treatment options, risks, and financial responsibilities, and mandates that patients cover costs unless the manufacturer agrees otherwise. The bill explicitly states manufacturers aren't required to provide treatments, insurers aren't obligated to cover them, and patients bear all costs - including potential liability for unpaid expenses. It also requires patient consent for any commercial use of their biological samples and clarifies that this law doesn't alter existing insurance coverage requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients after FDA options exhausted, improving patient access to care through manufacturer provisions and informed consent requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 82: Providing tax credits for expenditures for lockable gun and ammunition storage and the retail sale of higher ethanol blends of fuel, discontinuing the tax credit for qualified alternative-fueled motor vehicle property or fueling station expenditures, repealing the agritourism liability insurance, assistive technology contributions, declared disaster capital investment, owners promoting employment across Kansas and swine facility improvement tax credits and expanding the eligibility for applicable expenses under the child day care services assistance tax credit.

SB 82 allows rural emergency hospitals in Kansas that previously provided skilled nursing care to convert up to 10 swing beds into skilled nursing facility beds. To qualify, hospitals must be currently licensed as rural emergency hospitals, have held a prior hospital license, and have offered skilled nursing or swing bed services for at least one year without safety violations. The bill requires the Secretary for Aging and Disability Services to grant physical environment waivers upon application, enabling these hospitals to transition beds without meeting full nursing facility requirements. This policy directly affects eligible rural hospitals seeking to expand care access in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax credits for gun storage, ethanol blends, and child care while eliminating credits for alternative fuel vehicles and other specific industries, effectively restructuring state tax incentives to support targeted sectors.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables rural hospitals to expand skilled nursing beds, improving access to care in underserved areas without restricting services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care

signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2025

SB 126: House Sub for SB 126 - Establishing an advance universal newborn screening program, providing for the reimbursement of certain treatment services and extending the transfer of moneys to the Kansas newborn screening fund, increasing state financial assistance for local health departments under certain circumstances and increasing the annual assessment rate on hospital providers.

The bill text provided (SB 126) is actually about creating a **physician assistant licensure compact**, not a newborn screening program as incorrectly stated in the title. This bill establishes a legal framework allowing physician assistants (PAs) licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states through mutual recognition of their license ("compact privilege"). It clarifies that PAs must follow the laws of the state where the patient is located during care, while retaining state licensing boards' authority to take disciplinary action. The compact also specifically benefits military families by enabling active-duty personnel and spouses to obtain practice privileges based on an unrestricted license from a participating state. This is a substantive policy change affecting PAs, healthcare providers, and patients across participating states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state practice for physician assistants, expanding healthcare provider access and improving patient care options within healthcare delivery framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing