So ends the third week of the Kansas Legislative Session. Lots of activity this week and it will carry on into the next one.
As anticipated, advocates pushed for the reintroduction of Charlie’s Laws (the right to appeal an involuntary discharge from assisted living, residential health care or home plus). It was introduced in House Judiciary by Representative Kenny Titus District 51 – Manhattan. At this point, we still do not have a bill number. I will alert you all when we do. We are opposed to this measure as it forces our state licensed only communities to retain residents whom they are no longer able to care for while the appeal process takes place – upward of 45 days.
On Thursday, January 26, 2023 I had the privilege to represent KHCA/KCAL members in the House Health and Human Services (HHS) committee. This committee is chaired by Representative Brenda Landwehr and co-chaired by physician Representative John Eplee. During this briefing, I shared data on Nursing Home closures in Kansas, risk for additional closures, the burden of staffing agencies and their related costs, as well as a general overview of the levels of care covered under the title “Adult Care Homes.”
The committee has many new members and I so appreciate the Chairman allowing this presentation as a primer to long term care. If you would care watch the testimony, click here. To view the documents presented, click each link listed below.
I will be giving a similar briefing next Tuesday, January 31, 2023 to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee chaired by Senator Beverly Gossage and Co-chaired by Senator Renee Erickson. If you wish to watch the presentation live, click here at 8:30am on Tuesday then click on Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. A recording will be saved and can be viewed at the same link at a later date.
Also on Tuesday, a bill will be introduced that would codify the ability for adult care homes to apply and receive a handicapped tag or placard for transporting residents. Although this has been common practice for years, new interpretations of the existing statutes calls this into question. Thank you goes out to Medicalodges, Inc. President/CEO Scott Hines for bringing this to our attention so we could begin swift legislative action. Please see the following note from our lobby team outlining the process.
"I have just received word from the Revisor that the language of the Bill to amend the Statute related to disabled license plate tags is complete. After discussions with the revisor, we have determined that a new section will be added to the existing statute in KSA 8-1,125. The language of the new section is below.
To introduce this Bill, we must first complete the formality to introduce the Bill in the House Transportation Committee. I would be happy to do this, but if you would prefer, you may appear to introduce the Bill. Once the Bill is introduced in Committee, it will be filed and read in on the House Floor and assigned a Bill number at that time. We are working with tight Legislative deadlines, so we should move quickly. It would be our intent to have this Committee introduction complete at the next meeting of the Committee (Tuesday, January 31).
Please review the language and confirm that it is satisfactory and give us the go-ahead to introduce the Bill in Committee. Thanks."
Proposed language of the Bill
“Nothing in this section shall prevent an adult care home, as defined in K.S.A. 39-923, and amendments thereto, from being able to apply for and receive permanent placards or special license plates pursuant to this section if such adult care home provides satisfactory proof to the director of vehicles that the adult care home is responsible for the transportation of a person or persons with a disability.”
39-923. Definitions.
(1) "Adult care home" means any nursing facility, nursing facility for mental health, intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disability, assisted living facility, residential healthcare facility, home plus, boarding care home and adult day care facility; all of which are classifications of adult care homes and are required to be licensed by the secretary for aging and disability services.
The Bob Bethell KanCare Oversight Committee will meet Friday, February 3, 2023 to hear testimony regarding all things Medicaid, HCBS, KanCare, MCO and the eligibility process. I will be presenting testimony at 9:00am that morning. If you would like to testify or have me bring up issues for you, please let me know by close of day Monday, January 30, 2023.
Finally, please save the date for February 20th! KHCA/KCAL will host our Legislative Day at the Dome. Your voice must be heard. More details to come very soon.
Always, I am honored to represent you. Please contact me should you have any questions or need additional information.
