[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6638199,"mediaKeyId","2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055","parentId",2574031,"title","Senate panel weighs summer EBT fraud reimbursement, child services and workforce registry funding","audioSeconds",790,"startMs",3770000,"endMs",4560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055&start=3770&end=4560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055/thumbnail_3770000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6638199/Kansas/Senate-panel-weighs-summer-EBT-fraud-reimbursement-child-services-and-workforce-registry-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638199-82d301e6223779cee3f0e9f6319dfde5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407477&Signature=RNaYBqxtqdQVQswZwHbawKmWjgRtL6uQwZF0bAzDETV6wCt72KRkTHs1DuexU6QI7SX-0BZ4xY9AR9vy800BOAcwSocFvInQmoCibDenEfQlM9Q9QItcW1OR~ENAWEmk8rIjU~JBQnj0M~QnVhxKxra-Dpe8AEpBAgZ-S-MlQ4lkCWR7z3rZWiKw80crUPt8D4DQw~sXqE2IIR9q1htk4zN5pdnlp2u~A3addaaFNmTkk3pQBvaktPQHphFwxVmH1RYGDyXFKdwRQ4CVp7-7ErW60SPmANb0yfApK8O4Cm4HOWEFMWTbmKyj3i9vSy~SCiNq7luFPwB3Mc0c~CQl1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Ways and Means","date","2025-03-12T18:10:30.763Z","article","The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviewed House adjustments to the Department for Children and Families (DCF) budget and debated funding and proviso language for the Summer EBT (Sun Bucks) program, mentoring grants and child-care workforce items.

Amanda Prosser of Legislative Research presented the House adjustments and described the Summer EBT mechanics and related administrative funding. She told the committee the House had appropriated funds to the State Finance Council for Summer EBT administrative costs contingent on the DCF secretary certifying submission of a federal waiver exempting candy and soda from EBT-eligible purchases.

Why it matters: Summer EBT provides $40 a month per eligible child ($120 per summer) to help replace school meal benefits during summer months. Committee members focused on fraud exposure in the card administration and whether the state should use SGF to reimburse verified fraud losses.

Key committee actions and discussion

- Summer EBT fraud reimbursement and in-state restriction: Senator Clayse moved (and Senator Peck seconded) to add $10,000 SGF for FY2026 to reimburse clients who report fraudulent Summer EBT payments, with proviso language drafted to restrict card purchases to in-state (Kansas) purchases for the purpose of holding a proviso slot for conference. The committee approved the motion.

- Program mechanics and fraud: Committee staff explained the Sun Bucks card can be used out of state; the staff described the type of fraud at issue as “skimming” (devices placed on card readers to capture data), and said the vendor administering Summer EBT is Fidelity Information Services. Staff noted federal reimbursement for SNAP fraud had previously existed but that authority has since expired; reimbursement here would be limited to the Summer EBT program.

- Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters: The House had added funding for the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas and for Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters in response to public testimony; the committee discussed the age range in mentoring (motions noted mentor/mentee age ranges in testimony) and approved the House additions cited on the green sheet as conferenceable.

- Children\u0007s Initiative Fund (CIF) and workforce registry: The House had proposed not using CIF to fund a workforce registry; the committee adopted a conferenceable posture by moving $1,000,000 SGF in place of CIF funding for workforce registry discussion in conference (motion by Senator Clayse).

What the committee did not adopt

- A motion by Senator Petty to add $8,000,000 SGF to replace federal dollars used for foster care accounting failed on a voice vote; committee discussion noted the agency had changed how funds flow to children and that additional detail is needed.

Speakers (selection)

- Amanda Prosser — Legislative Research (presentation).
- Senator Clayse — Moved the Summer EBT client reimbursement carve-out and in-state proviso slot.
- Senator Peck — Seconded Clayse\u0007s motion and asked clarifying questions.
- Senator Petty — Raised concerns about program vetting and prior review time; moved the foster care replacement funding which failed.

Clarifying details

- Summer EBT benefit: $40 per month, $120 per child per summer.
- Fraud exposures described by staff: skimming at point-of-sale devices; vendor administering the program is Fidelity Information Services.

Community relevance and next steps

Committee members emphasized border-county implications of an in-state card restriction and the need to balance fraud protection with access in counties that border other states. The approved $10,000 placeholder for fraud reimbursement and the in-state proviso slot were described as conference positions to allow further drafting and negotiation with the House.

Searchable tags: DCF, Summer EBT, Sun Bucks, fraud reimbursement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, workforce registry

Provenance

topicintro: {\"block_id\":\"segment_120\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":46,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Hello, Committee. Amanda Prosser, Legislative Research. We're going to be looking at page 12 of the green sheet and if you have your budget summary notebooks, I believe it's volume 2, page 2 83.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"}

topfinish: {\"block_id\":\"segment_165\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":73,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Okay. Any other quest questions for Amanda? Senator Petty.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Ways and Means 03/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviewed House adjustments to the Department for Children and Families budget, with focused discussion on Summer EBT fraud exposure, mentoring grants and child-care workforce registry funding.","taxTitle","Ways and Means, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",20425,"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},6638203,"Senate panel reviews House adjustments to aging and disability budget; adds and amends several program allocations",342,2000,344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055&start=2&end=344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6638203/Kansas/Senate-panel-reviews-House-adjustments-to-aging-and-disability-budget-adds-and-amends-several-program-allocations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638203-f6446a02a6d73b49c1233444044edb1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407477&Signature=DQqA2F8cFzPlIL4T33G10TIHE2Nm01sdQdC15yldRGuWhVvKkgQ3bWFGx~DzT7uNRyUmqfNZTEa1130gQmnT~09oze6DoJtRhjGydotkbiswhovqnj4JXnLhKOEXH8KNJm2dt9fQ4TOIargJ1LRmWUoRQNMRsZh1TZ7t6mF2tCK3Mlbe2H~z~RRGETY2q1MruBPNEq2faZyTmPLAui2Tnpm9UkyWVZufwSC1NHqsdAhnIw-QzhdRQtISSzoWiud1Q0slFY4K3w01mO3AqkGwvLvETTDqckf1O6Jzze3GDcZutYy66rkwyLmRrcI9PpntZg6d15sSIk4xJttjodSFvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday reviewed House adjustments to the Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) budget, including restorations tied to federal FMAP changes and multiple new one-time and ongoing additions.

Dayton, legislative staffer presenting the green sheet, told the committee the House additions include a $45,000,000 restoration tied to HCBS FMAP savings and a $140,000 addition for in-home care for low-income seniors. For fiscal year 2026 the House added roughly $75.5 million in new appropriations, including a nursing-facility add-on payment set at $20 per Medicaid day, and funding to add new IDD waiver slots from the wait list.

Why it matters: The package targets both immediate pandemic-era funding reconciliations (FMAP-related restorations) and ongoing provider and service-rate changes for long-term care and behavioral health. Committee members probed the sources, locales and programmatic details of several House additions before voting on a series of amendments.

Most substantive House/committee items discussed

- HCBS FMAP restoration: $45,000,000 added to restore funding tied to FMAP increases during the federal public health emergency (House adjustment). Dayton said this restores funding related to FMAP increases.

- In-home care pilot completion: $140,000 to continue a pilot program serving low-income seniors.

- FY2026 additions: roughly $75.5 million total including $29.3 million from state general fund to support a $20-per-day nursing facility add-on; new IDD waiver slots funded (22,400,000 with $8.7 million SGF to add more than 320 individuals from the IDD waiver wait list, per the green sheet); a $6,000,000 one-time CMHC grant; $12.4 million to fully rebase nursing facility rates; workforce and training dollars; and a specialized medical care rate increase for certain waivers.

- Targeted pilots and smaller items: a $3.9 million pilot behavioral-health add-on for nursing facilities (proposed at $175 per Medicaid day), $1,000,000 SGF to offset federal senior nutrition cuts, $830,000 one-time for a homeless shelter renovation in Liberal, and a $1,000,000 increase to brain-injury waiver rates (raising unit rates to $20), among other items.

Committee amendments and votes

- Meals on Wheels: Senator Klooz moved to increase the House’s $1,000,000 adjustment for senior nutrition (often called Meals on Wheels) by $2,000,000 to bring the total on the Senate side to $3,000,000. After discussion about baseline funding and prior-year COVID supplements, the committee approved the amendment (motion seconded; committee voice vote recorded as aye).

- CMHC grants: The committee debated a House-added, one-time $6,000,000 supplement for community mental health centers (CMHCs). Senator Peck moved to delete that $6,000,000; a substitute to reduce it to $3,000,000 was offered and defeated; the committee ultimately adopted the deletion motion (motion carries) to establish a conference position with the House.

- IDD wait list slots and cap: Senator Alley successfully moved to add $5,000,000 SGF to add an additional 80 IDD waiver slots (increasing total new slots to 500), and to lower the proposed wait-list cap from 4,000 to 3,800. The motion carried.

- Brain injury waiver rates: Senator Erickson moved to add an additional $3,500,000 to augment a $1,000,000 House addition for brain injury waiver rates; the committee approved the motion.

- Homeless shelter funding: Senator Peck moved to delete the House’s $830,000 appropriation intended for a shelter renovation; after discussion the committee voted to delete that line for the Senate’s conference posture.

What the committee did not decide

Committee members frequently said the Senate position is meant to be “conferenceable” with the House. Several motions were adopted to create negotiating positions rather than finalize long-term program changes — for example deleting or reducing House additions to push items to conference for further review.

Speakers (selection)

- Dayton — Legislative staff (presenter; identified presenting green sheet page 10).
- Chair — Committee chair (generic reference in transcript).
- Senator Peck — Senator; asked questions on multiple KDADS items.
- Senator Klooz — Moved Meals on Wheels amendment.
- Senator Fagg — Seconded and spoke during several votes.
- Senator Owens — Moved repurposing of CCBHC planning funds for SUD block grant increases.
- Senator Holscher — Offered HCBS waiver funding amendment.
- Senator Erickson — Moved additional funding for brain injury waiver rates.
- Senator Alley — Moved additional IDD waiver slots and a lower wait-list cap.

Clarifying details extracted from the hearing

- HCBS FMAP restoration: $45,000,000 (House item 1 on green sheet p.10).
- In-home care for low-income seniors: $140,000 (House item 2).
- FY26 additions total (selected): $75.5 million including $29.3 million SGF for the nursing facility $20/day payment.
- CMHC grants: $6,000,000 one-time (House addition; committee debated deletion or reduction).
- Homeless shelter renovation request: $830,000—location specified in committee discussion as Liberal, Kansas.
- IDD wait-list cap (House language): cap set at 4,000 for IDD; committee reduced proposed cap to 3,800 via amendment.

Community relevance and implementation risk

The items affect long-term care providers, nursing facilities, CMHCs, IDD waiver recipients, senior nutrition programs and one local homeless shelter in Liberal. Several items are one-time supplements; others change recurring rate bases and therefore carry implementation and budgetary risk in subsequent fiscal years. The committee frequently framed adopted changes as conference positions for negotiation with the House.

Searchable tags: KDADS, HCBS, IDD, nursing facilities, Meals on Wheels, CMHC grants, brain injury waiver, homeless shelter, Liberal, budget

Provenance

topicintro: {\"block_id\":\"segment_0\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":119,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. I'll be working off of your green sheet on page 10. You should see there on page 10, department for aging and disability services.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"}

topfinish: {\"block_id\":\"segment_32\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":17,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"And those are the KDADS items on, that the house adjusted.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}","The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviewed House adjustments to the Department for Aging and Disability Services budget, discussed restorations for HCBS FMAP savings, new IDD waiver slots, nursing facility payments and one-time CMHC grants, and approved several amendments including increased Meals on Wheels funding and additional IDD slots.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638189,"Votes at a glance: selected motions and committee outcomes from the Senate Ways and Means meeting",8115,607000,8722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055&start=607&end=8722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055/thumbnail_607000.jpg","/articles/6638189/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-selected-motions-and-committee-outcomes-from-the-Senate-Ways-and-Means-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638189-fcb6e3c903bf45cb9c796d1ada9c8a95/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407477&Signature=GhfnJQ4Vn~ZVq4M84o5xAj5296Ex9PyR9bV86yeTZ3GkTCLOzDY8iKK6mgck3S7wwuHhh5ZPlBihJaZA4YJlE9aOw6-4AD2FZZCfLRwGIWuLpbmuJTVdB2RXoXAGvUPZOPA5cG20iYTFZl-FDp3zMwUYoHEpgxkZtroKoqh5Kq7ZacT7AjN2ejB~PF1h0R0iMqG1DUE6snBxIDs3r4a~ql6UV8x-tFPvNC6sGvs4IsRDzDvUIQ5GF-c2hsUAMfYMzUXHtk5ZSv7o~P9WbMunz638QpJl-t3ajFu0-tsRn1rWhybgrRE187l2eU7UYJ-IfGk--bmyk0069To5BBTYDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Below are selected motions and formal actions recorded during the committee session. Where the transcript recorded a voice vote the outcome is listed; roll-call tallies were not consistently recorded in the transcript.

1) KDADS — Meals on Wheels
- Motion: Add $2,000,000 to senior nutrition (increase House addition to $3,000,000 total)
- Mover: Senator Klooz; Second: Senator Fagg
- Outcome: Approved (committee voice vote recorded as aye)

2) KDADS — CMHC grants
- Motion: Delete $6,000,000 one-time CMHC grant addition included by the House (Senate conference posture)
- Mover: Senator Peck; Second: Senator Clays
- Outcome: Approved (committee adopted deletion as conference position)

3) KDADS — IDD waiver slots and cap
- Motion: Add $5,000,000 SGF and 80 additional IDD waiver slots (increase total new slots to 500) and lower proposed wait-list cap to 3,800
- Mover: Senator Alley; Second: Senator Peterson
- Outcome: Approved

4) KDADS — Brain injury waiver rates
- Motion: Add $3,500,000 to augment House addition for brain injury waiver rates
- Mover: Senator Erickson; Second: Senator Petty
- Outcome: Approved

5) KDADS — Homeless shelter renovation (Liberal)
- Motion: Delete $830,000 House appropriation for shelter renovation
- Mover: Senator Peck; Second: Senator Clays
- Outcome: Approved (deleted for Senate conference posture)

6) DCF — Summer EBT fraud reimbursement and proviso placeholder
- Motion: Add $10,000 SGF (FY2026) to reimburse summer EBT fraud claims; reserve proviso language to restrict card purchases to Kansas (conference placeholder)
- Mover: Senator Clayse; Second: Senator Peck
- Outcome: Approved

7) DCF — Foster care replacement funding
- Motion: Add $8,000,000 SGF to replace federal dollars used for foster care benefits
- Mover: Senator Petty; Second: Senator Holscher
- Outcome: Failed

8) KDHE — Medicaid outpatient rate increase (conference position)
- Motion: Add $20,000,000 SGF and $50,000,000 all funds for FY2026 to increase hospital outpatient Medicaid rates
- Mover: Senator Fagg; Second: Senator Clouse
- Outcome: Approved

9) KDHE — Gainwell Technologies contract funding
- Motion: Appropriate specified SGF and all-funds for FY2025 and FY2026 to cover increased contract expenditures with Gainwell Technologies
- Mover: Senator Fagg; Second: Senator Clouse
- Outcome: Approved

10) KDHE — Deletion of 30 House-restored FTEs
- Motion: Do not add 30 FTE positions that the House restored (positions funded by federal funds)
- Mover: Senator Peck; Second: Senator Erickson
- Outcome: Approved

11) KDHE — TB control funding
- Motion: Add $96,000 SGF for TB control efforts
- Mover: Senator Petty; Second: Senator Holscher
- Outcome: Approved

12) KDHE — Medicaid eligibility 12-month continuous termination
- Motion: Eliminate 12-month continuous eligibility for able-bodied adults, move to month-to-month eligibility
- Mover: Senator Erickson; Second: Senator Clays
- Outcome: Approved (committee debate noted administrative cost concerns and estimated $4–9 million annual savings)

Notes on voting and record-keeping

- The transcript records voice votes and several explicit \"aye\"/\"no\" statements but does not include roll-call tallies for every motion. Where the transcript explicitly recorded a count or hand raise, that detail is summarized in the meeting record; otherwise the committee reported outcomes by voice.

Provenance

topicintro: {\"block_id\":\"segment_751\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":36,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Other questions for Dayton? Seeing none. Thank you, Dayton. Okay. Committee, at this time, any amendments or changes?\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"}

topfinish: {\"block_id\":\"segment_8738\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":24,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"So we'll we'll move on. I know some of you have 1 thirties, don't you? Yes. We may just stop here today because I don't think we could do unless, I don't know.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}","The Senate Ways and Means Committee adopted multiple conferenceable positions and funding adjustments across KDADS, DCF and KDHE budgets. This roundup lists motions, movers, seconds and outcomes as recorded in the transcript.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6638194,"Committee adopts conference positions on KDHE additions; approves Medicaid outpatient rate boost and Gainwell contract funding",618,7290000,7908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055&start=7290&end=7908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2574031-d1464302bc669f1fe808c62c4905e055/thumbnail_7290000.jpg","/articles/6638194/Kansas/Committee-adopts-conference-positions-on-KDHE-additions-approves-Medicaid-outpatient-rate-boost-and-Gainwell-contract-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638194-ded1749703a87b5f87336ff07f660321/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407477&Signature=C5OtkFko6NJ8fw-tqsUym3z0ML0grHtyryk5FdDcNHQJpwGXOsTfZI~YXJMfickhribt99wTLa~5YS~ULNsPmwR7n449zJMAD6~rkibcTuxcYlOfa4J4uGMYvKEAlg85nIq1v9nJPDEbj0SECf4r1ydcHfiwrvcq5S4GVHD7JmxsAKDet0ZGWV0JODaaHfefZY~TbM2ML~FJIj3HYqdzlebFCIKkm9juzJVRpQMSqt6xQbesRyqiV~ZkRpE5Yv82t9TfC8LBGsBpc8R92gDjkXtS~3XNAJsco~SHWQL0iUkvMjTKgV1ubwjiJcAvMGLAhxx0mNa49q5kMCOcuRnjHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviewed House adjustments to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) budget and took several actions affecting provider rates, hospital funding and Medicaid administration contracts.

Megan Leopold of Legislative Research summarized the House\u0007s changes, which the committee then considered. The House additions reviewed included a $10,000,000 appropriation to adult inpatient behavioral health services to be distributed among hospitals based on adult behavioral bed capacity, a $10,000,000 addition (including $4,000,000 SGF) to increase Medicaid dental rates, pediatric Medicaid rate increases and a targeted dental code increase to reimburse sedation dentistry performed in operating rooms.

Why it matters: The actions affect hospital and dental provider reimbursements, Medicaid administration, and small targeted public-health programs. Committee votes included a Senate motion to add Medicaid outpatient rate funding and a separate motion to fund the state\u0007s Medicaid management contractor, Gainwell Technologies, to cover increased contract costs.

Key House adjustments noted by staff

- Restored $9,000,000 reappropriation lapse for FMAP savings used in HCBS improvement projects (previously noted in KDADS presentation).

- House added personnel: 30 FTE positions funded entirely by federal funds (House restored 30 of an agency request for 46 FTEs that the Legislative Budget Committee had deleted).

- Provider rate changes and pilots: $10,000,000 for adult inpatient behavioral health distributed across six hospitals; additions to dental and pediatric Medicaid rates; payment changes for wheelchair maintenance and donated-dental services; and two additional newborn screening tests for FY2026.

Committee actions and notable motions

- Medicaid outpatient rate increase: Senator Fagg moved to add $20,000,000 SGF (and $50,000,000 all funds) to increase hospital outpatient Medicaid rates for FY2026 to address hospital financial stress. The committee adopted the motion as a conference position.

- Gainwell Technologies contract funding: Senator Fagg also moved to appropriate additional funds to cover increased contract expenditures with Gainwell Technologies (the state Medicaid management-system contractor). The committee approved specified SGF and all-fund amounts for FY2025 and FY2026 to ensure system continuity and avoid payment delays.

- 30 FTE positions: Senator Peck moved that the Senate not add the 30 House-restored FTE positions (citing vacancy concerns and future SGF risk if federal funding ends). The motion to delete the 30 FTEs (for FY25 and FY26 line items cited) carried on a committee vote.

- TB control funding: Senator Petty moved and the committee approved a $96,000 increase to KDHE TB control efforts following testimony about a local outbreak and rising medication costs.

- Medicaid continuous eligibility (12-month): Senator Erickson moved to eliminate the Medicaid 12‑month continuous eligibility policy for able-bodied adults (moving to month‑to‑month eligibility), estimating state savings of $4–9 million annually; the committee approved the motion after debate about administrative costs and impacts on beneficiaries.

Speakers (selection)

- Megan Leopold — Legislative Research (KDHE presenter).
- Senator Fagg — Mover of outpatient Medicaid rate increase and Gainwell funding.
- Senator Peck — Moved deletion of 30 House-restored federal FTE positions.
- Senator Erickson — Moved elimination of 12-month continuous eligibility for some adults on Medicaid.
- Senator Petty — Moved TB-control funding increase.

Clarifying details

- Adult behavioral health add-back: $10,000,000 (House addition) to be distributed to six hospitals based on adult behavioral bed counts.
- Medicaid outpatient rate motion (Sen. Fagg): $20,000,000 SGF; $50,000,000 all funds (FY2026).
- Gainwell contract amounts: committee approved multi-year SGF and all-fund appropriations to cover increased vendor costs (details provided in the green sheet motion).

Next steps and risk

Several actions were explicitly framed as conferenceable positions with the House. The committee repeatedly noted implementation risks if federal support or ARPA interest transfers are changed in later stages. Deleting federally funded FTEs was justified in committee by vacancy rates and concerns about future state SGF exposure should federal funding terminate.

Searchable tags: KDHE, hospitals, Medicaid rates, dental rates, Gainwell, TB control

Provenance

topicintro: {\"block_id\":\"segment_6510\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":36,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Next, we'll have, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Health, and we'll start out with an overview by Megan.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"}

topfinish: {\"block_id\":\"segment_7899\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":22,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Anybody have anything else? Senator Patty. Did anyone have anything else? Senator Patty.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}","The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviewed House adjustments to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment budget, discussed hospital and dental rate increases, and approved motions to add Medicaid outpatient rate funding, add Gainwell contract funding, and add TB-control funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel weighs summer EBT fraud reimbursement, child services and workforce registry funding

Senate panel reviews House adjustments to aging and disability budget; adds and amends several program allocations

Votes at a glance: selected motions and committee outcomes from the Senate Ways and Means meeting

Committee adopts conference positions on KDHE additions; approves Medicaid outpatient rate boost and Gainwell contract funding