Wichita Dental Hygienists'
Association
KDHA Kansas Legislative Report February 20, 2020
The 2020 Legislative Session is fast approaching its first major deadline, known as Turnaround. Turnaround is essentially the “halfway point” of the regular session in which most bills (except a few exempt committees) must be passed by their chamber of origin in order to continue through the process. Committees met furiously this week to hold hearings and recommend bills to be considered by the House and Senate on the floor. Next week will see committees meet on Monday to wrap up lingering issues with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday dedicated for the House and Senate to debate bills on the floor.
The next few days of session are critical as hundreds of bills are expected to die on February 27 if they are not passed by their chamber of origin. Since the 2020 session is the second of the two- year session cycle, this includes 2019 proposed bills that became active again on the first day of session.
Medicaid Expansion and the proposed constitutional amendment dealing with abortion are still the two elephants in the room, slowing the session’s momentum and grinding other health policy related bills to halt. The Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee considered action on the Medicaid Expansion Bill but failed to recommend it out of committee.
Two other major issues, beyond the state budget, captured attention as committees made progress on legalizing sports betting and approving a new comprehensive transportation plan. KDOT’s Forward plan, contained in HB 2588 and SB 375, attracted a score of proponents with no opposition in the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Ways & Means Committee. The Senate Federal & State Affairs Committee advanced SB 283, which would allow folks within the state of Kansas to place wagers on sporting events while at a casino or on an interactive application on their phone.
With the health committees not meeting for hearings this week, most health policy bills will die by Turnaround, unless bills are transferred to exempt committees next week. This reality halts
Dental health bills subject to the Turnaround deadlines include several bills tracked by KDHA, including the following:
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SB 349- Oral Health Kansas’ Oral Health Plan Bill.
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HB 2633- Establishes requirements relating to how certain health insurers treat dental care service claims.
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HB 2630- Provides updates to the Kansas Dental Practice Act relating to discipline and procedures.
More information should be available at the end of next week on the status of these bills.
SB 363, which appropriates funds for primary care and dental clinics, resides in the Senate Ways & Means Committee where the bill will remain alive. No hearing has been scheduled at this time.
Thank you and please let us know any questions. Bill matrix below. Travis Lowe
Below you will find the bill number, bill subject, current Status and the last action.
Jim Denning, R-8th
Establishing the federal medical assistance percentage stabilization fund; limiting transfers from such fund, specified uses
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
05/29/2019 - Senate
Withdrawn from Ways and Means; referred to Public Health and Welfare
Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight
Establishing the licensure of dental therapists
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
01/15/2019 - Senate Referred to Public Health and Welfare
Senate Ways and Means Committee
Establishing the KanCare bridge to a healthy Kansas program
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
01/30/2019 - Senate Referred to Public Health and Welfare
Anthony Hensley, D-19th
Expanding medicaid eligibility by enacting the KanCare bridge to a healthy Kansas program
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
01/15/2020 - Senate Referred to Public Health and Welfare
​
Jim Denning, R-8th
Expanding medical assistance eligibility and implementing a health insurance plan reinsurance program
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
02/12/2020 - Senate
Scheduled Discussion and Possible Action in Public Health and Welfare: Thursday, 2/20, 9:30 AM, Rm 118-N
Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
Establishing a state oral health plan and Medicaid dental benefits and revising the dental practices act
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
01/31/2020 - Senate Referred to Public Health and Welfare
Senate Ways and Means Committee
Making appropriations to KDHE, division of public health, for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 for primary care clinics or dental clinics
In Senate Ways and Means
02/06/2020 - Senate
Referred to Ways and Means
​
Senate Commerce Committee
Expanding the expedited occupational licensure provisions for military servicemembers and spouses to all license applicants
In Senate Commerce
02/19/2020 - Senate
Scheduled Final Action in Commerce: Friday, 2/21, 8:30 AM, Rm 548-S
Nick Hoheisel, R-97th
Sales tax exemption for required textbooks
In House Taxation
02/07/2019 - House
Scheduled Hearing in Taxation: Tuesday, 2/12, 3:30 PM, Rm 112-N
House Health and Human Services Committee
Expanding medicaid eligibility by enacting the KanCare bridge to a healthy Kansas program
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
05/01/2019 - Senate
Motion to pull from Committee failed; Yeas 23, Nays 13 (24 votes required)
Related Bills:
HB 2102: Contents of HB 2066 replaced by contents of HB 2102 by House Committee of the Whole
House Appropriations Committee
Establishing the KanCare bridge to a healthy Kansas program
In House Appropriations
01/30/2019 - House
Referred to Appropriations
Related Bills:
HB 2066: Contents of HB 2066 replaced by contents of HB 2102 by House Committee of the Whole
House Health and Human Services Committee
Allowing the assignment of dental insurance benefits under the state healthcare benefits program
In House Health and Human Services
02/14/2019 - House
Referred to Health and Human Services
House Health and Human Services Committee
Establishing non-covered dental benefits under health insurance plans and limitations on plan changes
In Senate Public Health and Welfare
04/03/2019 - Senate Referred to Public Health and Welfare
Bill Rhiley, R-80th
Creating the open borders for Kansas jobs act; recognizing professional licenses issued by other jurisdictions
In House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
01/17/2020 - House
Referred to Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
Chris Croft, R-8th
Expanding the military spouse and servicemember's expedited licensure law to certain other license, certificate or registration applicants
In House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
02/06/2020 - House
Scheduled Hearing in Commerce, Labor and Economic Development: Thursday, 2/13, 1:30 PM, Rm 112- N
House Health and Human Services Committee
Updating certain provisions of the Kansas dental practice act
In House Health and Human Services
02/12/2020 - House
Referred to Health and Human Services
House Health and Human Services Committee
Authorizing the sale of smoking cessation aids to individuals who are are least 16 years of age
In House Health and Human Services
02/12/2020 - House
Referred to Health and Human Services
House Health and Human Services Committee
Establishing requirements relating to how certain health insurers treat dental care service claims; reimbursements; prior authorization; denials
In House Health and Human Services
02/12/2020 - House
Referred to Health and Human Services