Brief (1)
HB 2059 concerns the treatment of renal disease. As amended by the Senate Committee, the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Environment, to the extent moneys are appropriated or grants or other funds are received, to establish a program for the care and treatment of persons suffering from chronic renal (kidney) disease who require lifesaving medications and transportation to treatment for their disease.
The Secretary is to appoint support staff necessary to administer the program and develop standards for determining eligibility for care and treatment under the program, and to adopt rules and regulations necessary to properly administer and enforce the act. In lieu of administering the program, the Secretary is authorized to contract with an external organization for administration of the act.
Moneys received or appropriated are to be deposited in the Renal Disease Fund out of which all costs of the program, including administrative costs, are to be paid.
As amended by the Senate Committee, the bill provides that if the Secretary of Health and Environment determines that moneys for the program are inadequate, the program shall not be established until the Secretary determines that adequate resources exist.
As further amended by the Senate Committee, the bill would allow an institutional license issued by the Board of Healing Arts to be renewed upon the approval of the chief clinical officer or chief executive officer of the institution at which the holder of the license is employed and satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education required by the Board. Current law allows for renewal upon successful completion of an examination and continuing education. The Senate Committee amendments also delete a provision limiting renewal of institutional licenses to once if the holder was issued an institutional license prior to May 8, 1997, has successfully completed two years of postgraduate training in the United States, and has submitted evidence of satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education required by the Board of Healing Arts.
Background
HB 2059 was introduced by the Health Care Reform Legislative Oversight Committee as a result of its interim review of the issue. The bill is supported by the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas and Western Missouri, several renal patients, and, as amended, by the University of Kansas Medical Center.
As introduced, the bill would establish the program in the University of Kansas Medical Center. The Senate Committee amended the bill to place the program in the Department of Health and Environment.
The fiscal note on HB 2059 was prepared by the Division of the Budget prior to the Committee amendments which make the renal disease program subject to appropriations and receipt of grants or other funds.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi