The Second Half Commences
State Legislators returned to Topeka on Wednesday to commence the second half of the 2018 legislative session. It was a short week at the statehouse, which makes for a short legislative update.
First adjournment, also known delightfully as Drop Dead Day, is April 6th. It will now be a race to finish up bills, and most importantly, to pass the state budget. A judicial hearing has been set for the end of April to review progress on the state’s compliance with the court’s ruling that public schools are not being adequately funded, in violation of the state constitution. Presumably, the legislature needs to have a state budget passed before their court date to demonstrate to the court how they are addressing the school finance issue, and why the court should allow schools to open in the fall.
Our top priority continues to be increased funding for nursing home medicaid rates.
Want to join our weekly policy call? Ask Rachel for the number.
Senate Sub-Committee on Social Services
On Wednesday, the Senate Sub-Committee on Social Services heard agency and public testimony on the KDADS program budget. LeadingAge Kansas provided testimony on the need for full funding of Kansas nursing homes, and the devastation the last two years have wrought on providers, and their ability to continue providing good care for seniors.
The Sub-Committee will meet again next week to make recommendations on Medicaid funding priorities. Read our testimony.
Bill Tracker
SB 195 and HB 2508 Requires KDHE to suspend (rather than terminate) medicaid eligibility for persons in a state hospital, nursing facility for mental health, or a correctional facility
SB 300 and HB 2507 Prohibits major changes to the Medicaid program without the consent of the legislature, instructs KDHE to withdraw its KanCare 2.0 application to CMS, and instead apply for a one year extension of current KanCare
SB 312 Licensure of dental therapists
HB 2427 Amends background checks in adult care homes to require fingerprinting, increases fees, and adds various new misdemeanor and felonies to the exclusion list
HB 2232 Electronic monitoring in adult care homes
HB 2458 Expands the type of crimes that qualify as mistreatment of a dependent adult or elder person
HB 2496 Nurse licensure compact establishing a multi-state license category
HB 2512 Establishes the Kansas telemedicine act
HB 2590 Changes to the long term care ombudsman program
HB 2704 Informed consent requirements for antipsychotic drugs
SCR 1609 Constitutional amendment limiting the authority to close schools to locally elected boards of education
