2023 Legislative Session Begins
Yesterday marked the start of the 2023 legislative session. As always, KMS will vigorously advocate for keeping the practice of medicine and surgery in physicians’ hands, and making the environment in which you practice medicine the best it can possibly be.
This session will undoubtedly produce several important health care discussions, which will be affected by new leadership in the House of Representatives, as well as some Senate changes brought on by recent resignations. Both chambers of the legislature will be led by Republican legislators from the Wichita area: Representative Dan Hawkins is the new speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senator Ty Masterson continues as Senate president. The House Health Committee will continue to be chaired by Representative Brenda Landwehr of Wichita, and the Senate Health Committee will have a new chair in Senator Beverly Gossage of Eudora, who was made committee chair following the resignation from the senate by Richard Hilderbrand of Baxter Springs, who was the main architect of the 2022 legislation which authorized APRNs to prescribe drugs without a physician’s written authorization.
Notably, there are now four physicians in the Kansas legislature. Newly elected Ron Bryce, MD, a retired emergency physician from Coffeyville, joins John Eplee, MD, Atchison family physician and Bill Clifford, MD, a Garden City ophthalmologist in the House of Representatives, and Mark Steffen, MD a Hutchinson anesthesiologist continues to serve in the senate.
Most of the first week will be spent with pomp and circumstance following the swearing in and acclimating new members to their committees, floor procedures and how to navigate the statehouse. But we can expect a resurgence of bills expanding scope of practice for non-physician health care providers as well as proposals authorizing medical marijuana, Medicaid expansion and numerous new bills on a variety of other topics. We will keep you updated as issues arise and bills are introduced affecting the practice of medicine in our state.
A great way to become informed about the legislative process and proposals is to attend KMS Advocacy Day on Wednesday, January 25, so if you haven’t already, register today and hear directly from legislative and physician leaders about the 2023 session.
If you have any questions about legislative matters, please contact KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo at
Advocacy Day - January 25
Register HERE for KMS Advocacy Day
AGENDA
Annual Meeting
The KMS Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 24 beginning at 6:30pm for the purpose of finalizing the 2023 election. The meeting will be held in the Vanguard Ballroom at the Cyrus Hotel located at 920 S Kansas Avenue in Topeka, KS.
Board Election
Cast your ballot today. The KMS Nominating Committee—comprised of LaDona Schmidt, MD, Holton, Chair; Deb Doubek, MD, Manhattan; Rob Gibbs, MD, Parson; Jay Gilbaugh, MD, Wichita; Mike Machen, MD, Quinter; and Mark Synovec, MD, Topeka—present the following slate of candidates for KMS annual elections to be held on Tuesday , January 24, 2023 at the KMS annual meeting. Trustees and officers will serve two-year terms.
- To read more about each nominee, CLICK HERE
- To submit your vote on each nominee, CLICK HERE
