KMS Update: Legislature and COVID-19 updates
From KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo
With Friday’s adjournment, the Legislature has passed its first major deadline of the session, when most bills need to have been approved by at least one chamber. After a short break, legislators will have about three weeks to further consider bills that are still alive this session. After the next deadline on March 31, typically only those bills that have fully moved through both chambers (as well as exempt bills, such as a budget bill) will be eligible for passage this session.
Given that timeline, here is the status of some of the bills we have been involved with this session.
KMS Update: Call to action on APRN bill and COVID-19 updates
From KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo
I’d like to preface this week’s update by noting that this is among the rare times that we are calling all KMS members to action—that is, to send a brief note to one or more legislators as suggested below. But first, I will give you the context from recent developments in the legislature.
KMS Update: Developments at Statehouse, KMS Legislative Update registration, and COVID-19 updates
From KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo
This week, three bills proposing to allow nonphysician practice of medicine were made public, two of which have hearings scheduled for next week.
House 2256 and Senate Bill 174 seek to remove the requirement for a collaborative practice agreement between an APRN and a physician, where the former seeks to treat patients independently with no statutory limits on their scope of practice. Currently the bills are scheduled for hearings on 2/17 in House Health and Human Services and on 2/18 in Senate Public Health and Welfare (note: it is possible one or both of these hearings will be delayed). We plan to testify in opposition to both. Live streams of all House and Senate health committee meetings are available on YouTube (under “Upcoming live streams”).
KMS Update: New bills introduced, KMS Legislative Update registration, vaccine and other COVID-19 updates
From KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo
Since our last update, several proposals have emerged in the legislature that may implicate the practice of medicine in Kansas.
First, you have likely seen in recent news reports that Gov. Kelly plans to again support a bill to expand Medicaid, but this time by tying the proposal to passing a medical marijuana bill and using tax revenue from marijuana sales to cover the state cost for expanding Medicaid. Although a specific bill(s) has yet to be introduced, for Kansas physicians and other proponents of Medicaid expansion, this approach may prove to be problematic. Clearly it is critical that Kansans have access to care—and therefore KMS has always supported Medicaid expansion—however, we oppose medical marijuana, while it remains unapproved by the FDA.
KMS Update: Legislature advances priority issues, vaccine and other COVID-19 updates, KMS Annual Meeting
Legislative update from KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo
Just two weeks in to the 2021 legislative session and it is already unlike any before it. Within the first week, committees were meeting on priority issues, racing against what some have taken to calling the “COVID clock” — acknowledging the likelihood of legislators’ increased exposure to COVID-19 with each passing day under the dome. In addition to their constitutional duty to pass a budget funding state programs by the end of June, top legislative leaders identified two other priorities.
Primary election, Advocacy Day & Annual Meeting registration, and COVID-19 updates
A message from KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo:
A little more than half over, this year has already been one for the books. The coronavirus pandemic and all of its health, economic, and other societal impacts have been exhausting and challenging for just about everyone—in particular for those in the health care community and their patients. Add to that the widespread protests, social upheaval, and civil unrest that have grown out of the tragic death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis. And, just for good measure, throw in a presidential election that is likely to further divide the country along deep political fault lines. It seems like every day there is another crisis to deal with. It’s no wonder so many feel frustrated and exhausted.
Provider liability protection among provisions of new law
A message from KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo
Now that the Kansas Legislature has adjourned the Special Session, election season is in full swing. The incredible stress that has been placed on all aspects of American life in recent weeks and months makes the prospect of political engagement unappealing to many. But the importance of targeted advocacy and meaningful participation in policymaking is evident. KMS is the trusted voice for Kansas physicians—always working with lawmakers on policies affecting the practice of medicine so you can focus on patient care. Effective advocacy does not begin and end according to legislative sessions. Effective advocacy is rooted in relationship and requires investment in mutual understanding and support. Our voice as physician advocates is amplified by our political giving through KAMPAC. These funds are used to support state and federal legislative candidates that safeguard keeping the practice of medicine in physician hands. We support those lawmakers that want to ensure the highest level of care for Kansans. If you haven’t already, please consider becoming a KAMPAC member today so that our advocacy remains strong and effective for Kansas physicians.
Legislature to reconvene for special session
The 2020 Kansas legislative session was anything but ordinary, even prior to the onset of COVID-19. Early on, two major issues—Medicaid expansion and abortion—consumed much of the political oxygen in the Statehouse, diminishing the number of bills that would be considered in committee and passed on to the House or Senate. All health-related bills were particularly affected as such bills were viewed as potential vehicles to force a floor vote on Medicaid expansion. Following is a brief summary of what happened—or did not happen—this session, centered around bills of interest to Kansas health care providers.
Liability protection approved as legislature adjourns; bill goes to governor
As we reported last week, KMS continued to urge lawmakers to address liability protections for health care providers during the COVID-19 emergency period. KMS developed and presented to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees a narrowly constructed immunity proposal that limits health care provider liability related to COVID-19 treatment, and for professional services otherwise medically necessary that were delayed or not provided due to the declared state of emergency. KMS also worked closely with the governor’s office to ensure that the administration’s questions and concerns about the proposal were addressed.
Legislature adjourns for spring break amid uncertainty
This week, the Senate canceled all committee meetings scheduled for after Tuesday. Therefore, the Public Health and Welfare Committee did not hold the hearing that had been scheduled for SB 493, the bill in response to the Hilburn ruling. In light of the fast-moving developments this week regarding COVID-19, the Legislature was focused on passing a budget (its sole state constitutional duty each session), which it accomplished on Thursday.
