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Minutes for HB2325 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Adding maternity center to the definition of "healthcare provider" for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 15, 2023
Jenna Moyer, Staff Revisor, gave an overview of the bill. She answered questions from committee members.
Rebecca Williams gave proponent testimony by stating that Professional Liability Insurance for Birthing Centers and Nurse Midwives, who are not associated with a physician practice or a hospital is not available. She stated that the situation could be easily rectified if birthing centers were added to the list of facilities recognized by the Kansas Stabilization Fund as "defined Health Care Providers" by passing HB2325. It is truly an unfair situation which may put stand-alone birthing centers out of business if not rectified. If no more affordable options are available, the reduction in nurse midwives in Kansas is inevitable. (Attachment 1)
Kendra Wyatt spoke in support of the bill. She is the CEO of "New Birth Company" which is a Kansas Department of Health and Environment licensed and nationally accredited birth center providing natural childbirth services to KanCare mothers from 10 Kansas Counties. HB2325 is the result of two years of diligent work with the Healthcare Stabilization Fund in response to the closure of the Kansas City, Kansas birth center in July 2021, due to lack of malpractice options. Last year they were only able to access facility malpractice through a last-minute budget revision that expires June 30, 2023. (Attachment 2)
They took questions from committee members.
Clark Schultz gave neutral testimony. He stated that current statute allows maternity centers organized as professional corporations to be included in the definition of health care provider. HB2325 would provide an additional avenue for a maternity center that is not organized as a professional corporation. (Attachment 3)
Chairperson Gossage closed the hearing on SB2325.
