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Minutes for HB2386 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Updating income eligibility requirements for the state children's health insurance program.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 5, 2025
Carly Choi, Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of HB2386.
Yvonne Case, Director of Medicaid Operations, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, provided testimony in support of HB2386 (Attachment 1). Enacted in 2008, the CHIP limit for 2010 and subsequent years was set at 250% of the 2008 Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Because the limit was set based on the 2008 FPL instead of the level of each subsequent year, the CHIP income limit effectively decreased each year as a percentage of FPL. As a result, the CHIP income limit in 2022 was only 200% of the current FPL. Enhanced funding each year through proviso has helped in correcting the issue. HB2386 would eliminate outdated language and align the CHIP income limit with the current FPL for this and each successive year. The bill also removes an outdated penalty provision for non-payment of premiums within a continuous eligibility period that became unenforceable.
Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children, provided testimony in support of HB2386 (Attachment 2). An overview of the program was provided. A chart was provided reflecting the eroding of the CHIP eligibility levels since 2013. There was a temporary fix during the 2022 Legislature, but a permanent fix needs to be made. HB2386 does that. The bill also removes waiting period and lock out period clauses that are out of alignment with federal regulations.
Ms. Braum responded to questions from the committee.
The following provided written only proponent testimony:
Aaron Dunkel, Vice President of Regulatory and External Affairs, Community Care Network of Kansas (Attachment 3)
Charlie Hunt, Director, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (Attachment 4)
Dr. Dena Hubbard, Legislative Coordinator, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Attachment 5)
Brenda Sharpe, President and CEO, REACH Healthcare Foundation (Attachment 6)
Tonya Dorf Brunner, Executive Director, Oral Health Kansas (Attachment 7)
Ridge Rose, Manager of Government Relations, Children's Mercy (Attachment 8)
The hearing was closed.
