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Minutes for SB252 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Expanding medical assistance eligibility and implementing a health insurance plan reinsurance program.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 23, 2020
Chairman Suellentrop opened the hearing on SB252 with proponent testimony.
Scott Abbott, Staff Revisor, gave an overview which compared SB252 to the bill draft presented to the Senate Select Committee on Healthcare Access during the 2019 interim Committee on an issue-by-issue basis. (Attachment 1)
Secretary Lee Norman testified that KDHE had made much progress in the past year in addressing issues pertaining to eligibility and operations and that KDHE stands both willing and able to implement the Medicaid Expansion, as outlined in SB252. (Attachment 2)
Senator Jim Denning stated in his testimony that SB252 is known as the Kansas Innovative Solutions for Affordable Healthcare Act and is mostly the work product of the Special Senate Select Committee on Health Care Access. In bi-partisan fashion, negotiations with the Governor using the Senate language contained in 20rs1873 and the documented recommendations from Special Select Committee on Health Care Access, a compromise on SB252 was agreed to by a Senate majority and is now before this committee for consideration. SB252 expands Medicaid coverage up to 138% of the federal poverty level with a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) of 90/10. Senator Denning asked that any committee amendments regarding policy be held off for floor debate. (Attachment 3)
Senator Anthony Hensley testified as a proponent stating that if SB252 becomes law, thousands of Kansans will greatly benefit from its results. He said it will create new jobs and improve the economy of Kansas and it will help hospitals and providers keep their doors open, especially in rural parts of Kansas. I will also provide access to healthcare to uninsured Kansans, many of whom are already working but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid or too little to afford meaningful private insurance coverage. (Attachment 4)
Adam Proffitt stated in his proponent testimony that by expanding Medicaid, Kansas will be able to offer high quality, integrated and affordable health care to some of Kansas' most vulnerable citizens. He testified that since 2018 KDHE has made great progress in the areas of the mental health system; access to substance abuse treatment; additional work opportunities; increasing access through tele-medicine and tele-monitoring and standardizing processes across the three MCOs. It is well positioned to be able to implement the components of the bill that relates to his agency. (Attachment 5)
Dr. David Slusky, as a health economist, testified that "given that Medicaid expansion increases health insurance coverage; improves household financial circumstances; reduces mortality without negative impacts on the labor market and has positive benefits for private health insurance markets", he asks for support for SB252. (Attachment 6)
Tom Bell testified that SB252 is a sensible Kansas-based solution, creating jobs, boosting Kansas' economy and improving the health of Kansans. (Attachment 7)
April Holman, as a proponent for SB252, stated that support for the bill as written will honor the agreement and ensures that KanCare Expansion becomes a reality for the good of the State and for the tens of thousands of Kansans who desperately need coverage. She urges the Committee to keep the compromise bill clean and not add work requirements. (Attachment 8)
Kevin Walker gave proponent testimony stating that expansion of KanCare eligibility will help as many as 150,000 working, but uninsured Kansans, gain access to affordable health care; provide a boost to Kansas' economy and alleviate the strain of the increasing costs of uncompensated care that hospitals and other providers are straining to absorb. (Attachment 9)
Jordan Feuerborn testified as a proponent for SB252 stating that the passage of SB252 will ensure that thousands of low-income Kansans have access to lifesaving health insurance coverage that includes screen, diagnostic and cancer treatment care. (Attachment 10)
They answered questions from committee members.
Written only proponent testimony was submitted by:
Rachel Monger, LeadingAge Kansas (Attachment 11)
Curtis Sneden, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 12)
Vicki Whitaker, Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine (Attachment 13)
METL - The Chambers of Commerce of Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka and Lawrence (Attachment 14)
Bob Page, The University of Kansas Health System (Attachment 15)
Don King, Ascension Via Christi (Attachment 16)
Ken Johnson, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare (Attachment 17)
Sam Huenergardt, Advent Healthcare (Attachment 18)
Keri Strahler, Private Citizen (Attachment 19)
Nick Wood, Interhab (Attachment 20)
Rocky Nichols, Disability Rights Center of Kansas (Attachment 21)
Dennis Franks, Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center (Attachment 22)
Kendal Francis, City of Great Bend (Attachment 23)
Dennis Kriesel, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (Attachment 24)
Shelly R. Schneider, Barton County Health Department (Attachment 25)
Mitchell Craft, Edwards County Health Department (Attachment 26)
Mary Ransom, Franklin County Health Department (Attachment 27)
Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties (Attachment 28)
Darcie Van Der Vyver, Pratt County Health Department (Attachment 29)
Nicholas Baldetti, Reno County Health Department (Attachment 30)
Jason Tiller, Saline County Health Department (Attachment 31)
Terrie Garrison, United Government Public Health Department (Attachment 32)
Melissa Wachendorfer, Sheridan County Public Health Department (Attachment 33)
Bill Gautreaux, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City (Attachment 34)
Molly Gotobed, Coummunity Health Council of Wyandotte County (Attachment 35)
Justin Gust, El Centro (Attachment 36)
Debra Teufel, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 37)
Jill Enyart, Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (Attachment 38)
Scott Anglemyer, Kansas Association of Community Action Programs (Attachment 39)
Carl Frazier, New Hope and Love Community Church (Attachment 40)
Blake Benson, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 41)
David A. Smith, Shawnee Mission School District (Attachment 42)
Lou Ann Kibbee, Southeast Kansas Independent Living Resource Center (Attachment 43)
Lisse Regehr, Thrive Allen County (Attachment 44)
Ami Hyten, Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (Attachment 45)
Mike Taylor, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City (Attachment 46)
Julie Brewer, Unified Community Services of Johnson County (Attachment 47)
Jacob W. Kipp, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence (Attachment 48)
Dr. Maren Turner, AARP Kansas (Attachment 49)
Kari Rinker, American Heart Association (Attachment 50)
Sara Prem, America Lung Association (Attachment 51)
Stuart Little, Behavior Health Association of Kansas (Attachment 52)
Christie Applehanz, Children's Alliance of Kansas (Attachment 53)
Tania Hewett-Mader, Health Forward Foundation (Attachment 54)
Barb Conant and Sean Gatewood, KanCare Advocates Network (Attachment 55)
John Wilson, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 56)
Mitzi E. McFatrich, Kansas Advocates for Better Care (Attachment 57)
John Nave, Kansas AFL-CIO (Attachment 58)
Joey Hentzler, Kansas Appleseed (Attachment 59)
Brenda Bandy, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (Attachment 60)
Donn Teske, Kansas Farmers Union (Attachment 61)
Joyce Grover, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (Attachment 62)
Reginald L. Robinson, Kansas Health Foundation (Attachment 63)
Peggy Kelly, Kansas Head Start Association (Attachment 64)
Laura DeNooy, Debbie Lawson and Denis Sultz, Kansas PTA (Attachment 65)
Daniel Craig, Kansas Public Health Association (Attachment 66)
Dana Bacon, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Attachment 67)
Michael Poppa, Mainstream Coalition (Attachment 68)
Sherrie Vaughn, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Kansas (Attachment 69)
Laura Hoch, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Attachment 70)
Tanya Dorf Brunner and Christi Wells, Oral Health Kansas (Attachment 71)
Rachel Sweet, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes (Attachment 72)
Brenda R. Sharpe, REACH Healthcare Foundation (Attachment 73)
John Shively, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (Attachment 74)
Erica Terry, Susan G. Komen of Kansas and Western Missouri (Attachment 75)
David Jordan, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Attachment 76)
Terry L. Johnson, City of Junction City Fire Department(Attachment 77)
Rocky E. Cramer, Clay County Emergency Medical Services (Attachment 78)
Dr. Cassie Dietrich (Attachment 79)
Bryan R. Brady, First Care Clinic (Attachment 80)
Venus Lee, GraceMed Health Clinic (Attachment 81)
Teresa Lovelady, HealthCore Clinic (Attachment 82)
Amy Falk, Health Partnership Clinic (Attachment 83)
Con Olson, Jackson County EMS (Attachment 84)
Dr. Dena Hubbard, Kansas Chapter- American Academy of Pediatrics (Attachment 85)
Betty M. Drees, MD, Kansas City Medical Society (Attachment 86)
Stephen Salanski, MD, Kansas City Medical Society Foundation (Attachment 87)
Geofrey Kigenyi, Mercy & Truth Medical Missions (Attachment 88)
Jamie Miller and Chip Portz, Mid-America Regional Council Emergency Rescue (Attachment 89)
Steve Roberson, Newton Fire/EMS (Attachment 90)
Patrick Sallee, Vibrant Health (Attachment 91)
Edward Acosta, Individual (Attachment 92)
Jessica Cecil, Individual (Attachment 93)
Daniel and Diana Church, Individuals (Attachment 94)
Andra Fergerson, Individual (Attachment 95)
Julio Garcia, Individual (Attachment 96)
Dr. Jean P. Hall, Individual (Attachment 97)
Dr. Cathryn Hay, Individual (Attachment 98)
Rev. Peter Luckey, Individual (Attachment 99)
Suzanne M. Mace, Individual (Attachment 100)
Lori Marceau, Individual (Attachment 101)
Larry Wilgers, Individual (Attachment 102)
Naomi Wood, Individual (Attachment 103)
Greg York, Individual (Attachment 104)
Chairman Suellentrop adjourned the meeting at 10:30 a.m. The next scheduled meeting will be January 24, 2020.
