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Minutes for SB131 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Sub for Senate Bill 131 by Committee on Public Health and Welfare - Permitting an out-of-state physician to receive a sports waiver to practice medicine in this state on a limited basis during certain sporting events and permitting the state board of healing arts to adopt procedures to allow other licensed and regulated healthcare professionals to be issued a sport waiver.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 13, 2023
Scott Abbott, Revisor of Statutes, provided and overview of SB131.
Senator Jeff Pittman, Kansas Senate, provided testimony in support of SB131 (Attachment 2). The bill provides team doctors the ability to accompany sports teams traveling into Kansas without obtaining a license to practice for a short time. Forty six states have adopted similar legislation. Senator Pittman provided compelling reasons for the legislation.
Senator Pittman responded to questions from the committee.
Courtney Cyzman, General Counsel, Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, provided testimony in support of SB131 (Attachment 3). The bill would allow an individual to be issued a Sports Waiver by the Board to practice in Kansas on a limited basis during certain sporting events. The steps needed to qualify for a Sports Waiver were reviewed. Qualified applicants would be issued the waiver within 15 days upon completion of the application. There is no cost associated with the Sports Waiver. The individual is limited to the healthcare services required under the written agreement with a sports team or healthcare services required by the national sports governing body. Ms. Cyzman proposed 2 amendments to the bill.
Ms. Cyzman responded to questions from the committee.
Dr. Nicole Yedlinsky, on behalf of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, provided testimony in support of SB131 (Attachment 4). Sports medicine physicians have specialized training in both the treatment and prevention of illness and injury, Team physicians work closely with their athletes and have in-depth knowledge of their athletes' medical histories, current status and other factors related to their care. The bill would clarify the issue of team physicians with out-of-state licensure that travel to Kansas to provide care for their team athletes and staff. It is important to note that the provisions of SB131 for out-of-state team physicians are limited and temporary.
Brian Williams, on behalf of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, provided testimony in support of SB131 (Attachment 5). Athletes who compete in intercollegiate or professional sports often travel across state lines. Ideally, the team physician travels with them along with other healthcare providers. Despite federal legislation to address this issue, some states such as Kansas remain unclear regarding out-of-state licensure of traveling team physicians. SB131 clarifies state law to allow team physicians licensed in other states to accompany and treat athletes traveling to Kansas, The limits placed on the Sports Waiver were presented to the committee. It is important to athletes to have the individuals available to afford them the continuity of care they need.
Mr. Williams responded to questions from the committee.
The following provided written only testimony in support of SB131:
Travis Oiler, Executive Director, Kansas Chiropractic Association (Attachment 6)
The hearing on SB131 was closed.
Without objection, the committee worked SB131.
Representative Eplee motioned and Representative Ruiz seconded to pass out SB131 favorably.
There was discussion.
Representative Eplee motioned and Representative Ruiz seconded to amend SB131 with the recommendations offered by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in its testimony. Motion carried. (Attachment 7)
Representative Eplee motioned and Representative Ruiz seconded to pass out SB131 favorably as amended. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:28 PM.
