What's going on in Kansas: a mid-session legislative recap
Post date: March 12, 2015 2:54 AM
By Jessica Hembree, program and policy officer, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
The end of February marked Turnaround Day in the Kansas legislature, the date by which bills must move from their originating chamber to the other body in order to remain live.
The legislature will adjourn on April 4 and reconvene at the end of April for a veto session, leaving only a short window of time for movement.
Here are updates on just a few health-related bills under consideration:
KanCare Expansion
- Though we are a far-cry from declaring victory on KanCare (Kansas’ Medicaid program) expansion, this session has sparked some movement on the issue for the first time. Rep. Jim Ward (D-Wichita) amended expansion onto another bill on the House floor. Leadership was unsure of how a vote on the amendment would turn out, given that the House may be close to majority support. Ward agreed to drop the amendment in exchange for a hearing before the House Health & Human Services Committee. The hearings will be held March 18 and 19. The bill under consideration simply repeals the language passed last year, which required legislative approval of expansion. Simultaneously, Gov. Sam Brownback is saying that he would sign a budget-neutral expansion bill. Although there is still significant opposition and a long way to go for passage, this is the closest Kansas has come to expanding Medicaid.
Increasing the Cigarette Tax
- Gov. Brownback’s budget included a $1.50 increase in the state cigarette tax, as well as increased taxes on liquor products. The proposals were heard before the House Committee on Taxation. The tax increase is projected to prevent 26,800 Kansas children from ever starting to smoke. Despite support from Gov. Brownback, the legislature is not favorable to the increases. However, the state budget is in such bad shape that legislators may be forced to consider the increased taxes.
Oral Health
- The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the House Health and Human Services Committee held hearings on bills that would approve registered dental practitioners to work in Kansas. More than 30 organizations and individuals testified in support of allowing dental hygienists who obtain advanced education and training to become RDPs. RDPs would be able to provide routine, preventive oral health care services like cleanings, fillings and simple extractions. Because the bills are non-budget bills that haven't advanced in either legislative chamber, the bills will likely be set aside for the remainder of the session.
Categories:
HCF's Local Health Buzz Blog aims to discuss health and health policy issues that impact the uninsured and underserved in our service area. To submit a blog, please contact HCF Communications Officers, Jennifer Sykes, at jsykes@hcfgkc.org.
Subscribe
About Bridget's Blog
Bridget McCandless, MD, MBA, FACP, HCF President/CEO
Bridget McCandless is the President/CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and is a Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist with an interest in chronic disease management and poverty medicine. She shares her thoughts and perspectives on health and policy issues that impact the health of the community as a whole.
March 19, 2015
- 1 of 8
- ››
Other Health Blogs
The HPV vaccine could do even more
The HPV vaccine could do even more
January 23, 2014
The HPV vaccines (Gardasil and Cervarix) have been recommended for girls in the US for nearly 10...
read more...
A Message to Remember on the State of Our Union
A Message to Remember on the State of Our Union
January 29, 2014
ast night, President Barack Obama delivered his State of The Union address on Capitol Hill. In...
read more...
Make good on mental health parity
October 8, 2013
read more...
Comments
Post new comment