The Chair opened the hearing on HB2550.   Assistant Revisor Ma briefed the members on the contents of the bill and stood for questions.(Attachment 1)

Proponents testifying virtually before the committee included:

• Chris Chastain, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, National Alliance on Mental Illness pointed out hospitals are not currently required to show how 340B revenues are used, limiting assurance that under served Kansans are benefiting as intended; bill requires basic annual reporting. (Attachment 2)
• Kevin Mills, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ad Astra Bio, believes, currently,  without visibility on how 340B savings are applied, this bill is necessary to ensure that rising health care costs are not unduly shifted onto employers and patients through higher health plan premiums. (Attachment 3)
• Shawn Gremminger, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions addressed that as the 340B program has grown, both in scale and impact, oversight of the program has not been expanded; expressing that large hospital systems and middlemen are benefiting from this program, not the safety-net providers this program was intended to help.   (Attachment 4)

All conferees stood for questions. 

The following proponents submitted written-only testimony:

• Kalvin Pugh, Director of State Policy 340B Community Access National Network, (Attachment 5 )and
• Susan Crain Lewis, Mental Health America of the Heartland(Attachment 6)

There were no neutrals present.

Opponents appearing before the committee included:

• Karen Braman, RPh, MS, Senior Vice President, Clinical and Strategic  Initiatives, Kansas Hospital Association (Attachment 7)
• Carrie Lutz, Chief Executive Officer, Holton Community Hospital (Attachment 8)

Opponents appearing virtually before the committee were as follows:

• Issac Boone, Pharmacist, Eureka Pharmacy, Greenwood County Hospital (Attachment 9)
• Kristi Cofer, Director of Pharmacy, Common Spirit Health (Attachment 10)
• Maureen Testoni,  President and Chief Executive Officer,  340B Health (Attachment 11)

All conferees appearing in person and virtual stood for questions.

Opponent written-only testimony was provided by William Wilk, Director of Government Affairs, Kansas Chamber (Attachment 12)

Primarily, opponents of this bill site duplication of effort as oversight is the responsibility of the federal government; disproportionately impacts small and rural hospitals; and compliance burdens jeopardizing patient care responsibilities. 

The Chair closed the hearing on HB2550