The Kansas Legislature convened for the 2025 Regular legislative session on Monday, January 13th. Leaders have announced a twelve-week legislative calendar with final adjournment in early April. While the first week was largely dominated by the swearing-in of all House and Senate members and other procedural events, committees were in full swing by week two with hearings and bill introductions vying for priority in the shortened timeline.
Of note for Kansas physicians are the perennial bids for increased scope of practice by non-physicians. SB 67 establishing independent practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists was introduced late last week with language that is nearly identical to bills sought in 2023 and 2024. Under the proposal, CRNAs would be allowed “full practice authority,” only prohibiting surgery to place a medical reservoir and perform or prescribing for an abortion. As written, the bill would not further limit CRNA practice or distinguish it from the practice of medicine in any other way. The Board of Nursing would continue to license and regulate CRNAs. The Kansas Medical Society has strongly opposed this legislation since its original introduction in 2023. Proponents have stated they want the same statutory authority as APRNs who were successful in their push for prescribing authority and the ability to order durable medical equipment. However, SB 67 is far broader and essentially equates independent “full practice authority” with the unlimited and independent practice of medicine.
Optometrists are also seeking an expanded scope and have signaled their intent to re-introduce language that would allow them authority to perform certain surgical and other procedures with additional training. The optometry bill failed to make it out of committee last year, but optometrists have redoubled their efforts this year and, in the Capitol, meeting with legislators daily to push for action on the issue this year.
Other bills of interest include SB 41 which was proposed at the recommendation of the Health Care Stabilization Fund Oversight Committee. The bill would add APRNs to the Fund, requiring all nurse practitioners to comply with the mandatory insurance provisions and purchase a minimum of $ 1 million in coverage as a condition of licensure, as physicians, CRNAs, physician assistants, and other participating providers do.
Finally, both House and Senate leaders have indicated strong support for advancing legislation to ban certain procedures and treatments around gender-affirming care for minors. Identical bills were introduced in the House and Senate health committees (SB 63 and HB 2071) which prohibit healthcare providers from treating gender dysphoria with the intent of altering a minor child’s physical sex. The bills provide that a physician performing such services to minors will lose their license, and the legislation creates a new private (civil) cause of action against physicians for providing such care. The addition of new civil causes of action is a growing trend around the country and has been added to several ideological bills as a harsh deterrent. The Kansas Medical Society does not support creating new private causes of action against physicians in addition to and outside of malpractice. Both the House and Senate have scheduled hearings on this issue next Tuesday, January 28th, and have indicated the bill will be among the very first policy debates before each body, with passage very likely.
KMS does not advocate for or against those social or ideological issues predominantly characterized by a conflict or clash of deeply held personal beliefs, values, or principles.
By the end of this month, the legislature will be a quarter of the way through its planned schedule, leaving very little time for additional bills to move through the full process without strong support in both chambers. Nonetheless, your team is at the Statehouse every day to monitor emerging issues and advocate on behalf of you, your practice, and your patients.
If you’d like to learn more about the legislative process, I urge you to register today for our annual Advocacy Day this coming Wednesday, January 29. It’s a great opportunity to meet with your legislators and colleagues of all specialties from around the state to discuss current legislative issues. We’ve had a tremendous registration response once again but would love to have you join us. Registration information is below.
Last day to register for KMS Advocacy Day is Monday, January 27 by 5 PM. Advocacy day is on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas!
Kansas Medical Society’s Advocacy Day offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with your legislative leaders. You will join physicians from across the state, regardless of specialty to ask the hard questions that impact the house of medicine. Please plan to meet with your specialty society, KMS leadership & your peers to inform lawmakers, guide decision-making, and generate support for policies on critical issues that impact physicians, patients, and the healthcare environment for our great state of Kansas. Whether you view advocacy as a responsibility or an option, your community participation, leadership, and collective voices are essential to the House of Medicine’s continued leadership in health care.
