[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6658977,"mediaKeyId","2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f","parentId",2474228,"title","Committee advances bill exempting law enforcement from state opioid-antagonist protocol; funding language restored after amendment votes","audioSeconds",965,"startMs",2185000,"endMs",3150000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f&start=2185&end=3150","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f/thumbnail_2185000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6658977/Kansas/Committee-advances-bill-exempting-law-enforcement-from-state-opioid-antagonist-protocol-funding-language-restored-after-amendment-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658977-2ed4f1ead3a883725f0ca481a9bc9614/orig.mp4?Expires=1775782564&Signature=Yz0td4OoNmDmBbG2xh7fHb1-h7kBZXXW81WfXVAimJXmDRt1cMiefCFby7y6q8e2M60oWMj11qVr0CU1tLzdADLmoeqLaH0Dx9mn5-Ze6edPSINvk45PwzZKpjoJOBZGrtVHfDNSXtU187MWKAC6F37avi6cOJYqxNA2PDgfKJRi0olk7DU6OE4gGR5LSGbWkzf0b9RWqXPWJGqqPoN9huL8dFbiOM9O7zwr6uSdl9HkqRy9aVw57nJC7ssfyrylIHZHQxqwpok7BGxwy1qr-dGULLacEK7lof~cHlc-Xevm6vsVaAoHNX1G0Nvy9TjfY-YNEeMerT0uFCIVyFkXfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Committee on House Health and Human Services ","date","2025-03-03T20:42:53.09Z","article","The House Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 193 and then worked House Bill 2159, which would add an exception allowing a law enforcement agency to be exempt from participation in the state opioid antagonist protocol unless the agency elects to provide an emergency opioid antagonist under the protocol.

Revisor Carly described the bill as amending KSA 65-16127 to add an exception in subsection (f), and noted the measure mirrors language the committee previously added to House Bill 2159. Carly said SB 193 “provides an exception for law enforcement agencies from participation in the state opioid antagonist protocol” and that the bill passed the Senate 40-0 and would take effect July 1, 2025, upon publication in the statute book.

Ed Klump, testifying for supporters, said the change reflects current practical needs: smaller law enforcement agencies often cannot secure a physician advisor required under the older prescription-based framework. Klump explained that because opioid antagonists (naloxone/Narcan) are now available over the counter in non-prescription form, agencies obtaining the drug that way should not be required to maintain a medical adviser solely to obtain the antagonist.

The committee then moved to work House Bill 2159. Representative Howell offered an amendment to strike section 1 of HB 2159 (removing the grant program in that draft); Representative Steens seconded. The committee recorded several no votes during that amendment’s voice vote (members later identified on the record included McDonald, Peso, Ruiz, Casey and Weichel). Following discussion, the committee chair offered an amendment to restore certain language (inserting “law enforcement agency” and adding “or criminal forensic laboratory” in the statutory definition text to make the language consistent with SB 193). The restoration amendment was adopted. The committee then voted to move HB 2159 out of committee; members recorded no votes that included Peso, Ruiz and O'Hobison. The committee chair closed the item and said the committee would continue to work a heavy agenda.

Witnesses and staff discussed technical points: SB 193 does not include the grant program that appeared in HB 2159; committee members discussed different bill drafts and whether a definition of “first responder” or related terms needed to be reconciled across the two measures. Jenna Moyer of the Revisor's Office confirmed there were differences in the drafted definitions and the reviser’s office was prepared to reconcile technical edits.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee on Health and Human Services 03/03/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Health and Human Services Committee worked House Bill 2159—linked to Senate Bill 193—which would allow law enforcement agencies to be exempt from the state opioid antagonist protocol unless they elect to participate.","taxTitle","Committee on House Health and Human Services, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",18811,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6658981,"Bill would require dementia-specific training for state long-term care ombudsmen",1664,490000,2154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f&start=490&end=2154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f/thumbnail_490000.jpg","/articles/6658981/Kansas/Bill-would-require-dementia-specific-training-for-state-long-term-care-ombudsmen","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658981-6fe608e904825e1b8c6ec566d73043d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775782564&Signature=XFASbK14Uy5XkOvxxk1rgLjav-PP1tS~DIqBQknS6IgGadUiyr2a9ZkV~NPlOqc9V8DQFLsawOHLFRxq0kkyP75SkysBWZ1~jl1whRF5a0cMVXJdNVP4CdY~St8rk1XNtWK1MgErHLUXP-oAikJ5BTfb~l0Gk0T~sHFtNud~rx1OsrEVM74d9x03TG2uLBESJCZHv2J6Vsu2O01O7hxlR-W5IFL~VN1flBohPBqmokTA4j71Qq4kGF3h58ZU6rjmfmASX2x44AZ6-oVXFbEEeGGOPkbpoIb2JMkpCHjxmGyAWaI-EkXX3nFYK7ekW69Sg5J91Jf8lsHWLdKT56heOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health and Human Services Committee received testimony on Senate Bill 88, which would amend KSA 75-7306 to require the state long-term care ombudsman and regional ombudsmen to receive training in dementia care and related topics.

Revisor Carly described the bill as amending the statute that sets out the ombudsman’s powers and duties, and listed required training topics including “understanding the warning signs of [dementia], person-centered dementia care, effective communication with such residents, recognizing behavioral symptoms and alternatives to restraints,” and protocols for connecting residents to local care resources. Carly said the bill passed the Senate 40-0 and would take effect July 1, 2025, upon publication.

Jamie Gideon, Kansas director of public policy for the Alzheimer’s Association, said the bill fills training gaps that can occur when a new ombudsman is appointed and that the curriculum the association provides is consistent with the proposed topics. Gideon said there is no cost for the training as organizations (including the Alzheimer’s Association and KDADS) have agreed to provide it for free, and added the Association’s basic online module ","Senate Bill 88 would add required dementia-specific training topics to the State Long Term Care Ombudsman program. Supporters — including the Alzheimer's Association, providers and several family members — said the training is low-cost or free and would improve advocates' ability to identify and act on problems affecting residents with dementia.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6658985,"Bill would let qualifying rural emergency hospitals convert up to 10 swing beds to skilled nursing beds",0,1135000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f&start=1135&end=1135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474228-067451c3c5e464e92e35333bd41b832f/thumbnail_1135000.jpg","/articles/6658985/Kansas/Bill-would-let-qualifying-rural-emergency-hospitals-convert-up-to-10-swing-beds-to-skilled-nursing-beds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658985-dcc9dfa6dbcb4b11a8619f287d5287a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775782564&Signature=ZJbAPq7KWkgIqQI7MWb7ngJcJgL4YBFSTrENB6xRyHoLiuohp6pRVXplCLl8D~rY6GvJq3t2jppZ8nkHZo8522Q5JTtKpSCxd-vL-goJO-bk4dpEqt-f0gIosbP8ClAXA5N9Z30DVh-iCM8otM5VB47o6oLwMr78dTLSU-1OB1XF8yqFXnhfJcm17kzv1aCz6lGhgFyHliQjH0VjV-mxIUazfim84IQYQqkHNw6byazYKh3WNlQRLT6nLP-8fgNg00bE3EcxVbahAReTh4FEt2duDvNwK-EwYSvCSvOkA5joFed~rjS5HmxdcNyZuSB28vLM~yPwPYS0QbrDDjbqQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Health and Human Services Committee opened and closed a hearing on Senate Bill 82, which would create a statutory requirement for the Secretary for Aging and Disability Services to grant physical-environment waivers allowing certain rural emergency hospitals to convert up to 10 swing beds into skilled nursing facility beds.

The bill “requires the secretary for aging and disability services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care,” Revisor Carly (committee staff) told the committee, adding the measure mirrors House Bill 2249 and that “the bill passed the Senate 40 to 0 and would go into effect on 07/01/2025 upon publication in the statute book.”

Proponents said the bill is narrowly targeted. Tara Mays of the Kansas Hospital Association told the committee the proposal “gets at allowing a rural emergency hospital to get past one important step in being able to keep and retain skilled nursing facility beds.” Kylie Childs of LeadingAge Kansas said the change would help preserve a continuum of care in rural areas and noted the physical-environment waivers are already familiar to providers: “This waiver is not something outside the realm of normal operations for [KDADS] to grant.”

Lacey Hunter, commissioner of survey and certification for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), testified neutrally and described KDADS’s current role and limits. Hunter said the bill “would clarify in statute KDADS authority and responsibility to provide waivers to statute or regulatory requirements” and that KDADS “is aware of only one rural emergency hospital that meets the criteria to request a physical environment waiver.” Hunter also said KDADS “did not have any regulatory oversight over the facility that would qualify for a waiver under Senate Bill 82 and does not have information on the utilization of the long-term beds in the facility before its transition to rural emergency hospital.”

Hunter, and multiple proponents, emphasized a federal dependency: the waiver would allow continuation of long-term care only if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approves the rural emergency hospital to be certified to provide Title XVIII and Title XIX services. As Hunter said, “This would only be true if CMS approves.”

The committee did not take a final vote on SB 82 during the hearing; members received the testimony and closed the public hearing.

If enacted, the bill would add a new statutory section giving KDADS a mandatory waiver-granting duty for qualifying facilities and would take effect July 1, 2025, upon publication in the statute book, according to the reviser’s description.","Senate Bill 82 would require the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to grant physical-environment waivers allowing certain rural emergency hospitals to convert up to 10 swing beds into skilled nursing facility beds; proponents said the change would preserve local long-term care capacity in rural areas.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill exempting law enforcement from state opioid-antagonist protocol; funding language restored after amendment votes

Bill would require dementia-specific training for state long-term care ombudsmen

Bill would let qualifying rural emergency hospitals convert up to 10 swing beds to skilled nursing beds