The hearing on SB271 was opened.

Carly Choi, Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of SB271 (Attachment 2).

Christine Osterlund, Deputy Secretary of Agency Integration and Medicaid Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, provided testimony in support of SB271 (Attachment 3). In 2008, legislation set the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) income limit for 2010 and subsequent years at 250% of the 2008 federal poverty level (FPL). Because it was tied to the 2008 FPL, instead of each following year's FPL, the CHIP income limit effectively decreased as a percentage of the FPL. As a result, the CHIP income limit in 2022 was only 200% of the current FPL. The difference has recently been covered by provisos to the appropriation budget. In 2022, (2022) SB267 authorized new funding for the state fiscal year 2023 to raise the CHIP income limit to 250% of the current year's FPL. SB271 removes this outdated language to align the CHIP income limit with the current FPL and those of subsequent years. Comparisons with other states' CHIP limits was provided to the committee. An amendment to allow pregnant children to be covered under CHIP provided KDHE receives verification of such pregnancy has been recommended.

Ms. Osterlund responded to questions from the committee. 

Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children, provided testimony in support of SB271 (Attachment 4). The bill makes technical fixed to the statute related to CHIP including permanently fixing an unintended error that has effected eligibility for nearly 18 years that impacted children's access to health insurance coverage. A review of the CHIP program was provided. SB271 removes the 2008 year reference in the statute and now relies on the current year FPL. Amendments that were added to the original bill were described. This bill benefits 57,000 Kansas kids enrolled in CHIP and all future eligible ones.

Ms. Braum responded to questions from the committee.

Written only proponent testimony provided by:

Charlie Hunt, Director, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (Attachment 5)

Dena Hubbard, Public Policy Chair, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Attachment 6)

Nathan Madden, Director of Health Policy, REACH Healthcare Foundation (Attachment 7)

Robert Stiles, Chief Executive Officer, Community Care Network of Kansas (Attachment 8)

Tonya Dorf Brunner, Executive Director, Oral Health Kansas (Attachment 9)

The hearing on SB271 was closed.

Without objection the committee will work SB271.

Representative Wikle motioned and Representative Ruiz seconded to pass out SB271 favorably.

There was discussion.

Representative Carpenter motioned and Representative Stiens seconded to amend SB271 as presented (Attachment 10). Motion carried.

Representative Buehler motioned and Representative Ellis seconded to pass out SB271 favorably as amended. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:36 PM.