Lawmakers set July 1, 2026 deadline to end contract nursing at Larned State Hospital after debate on costs, staffing and fire services

The Social Services Budget Committee voted to end the use of contract nursing at Larned State Hospital effective July 1, 2026, following an extended discussion about staffing shortages, high contract rates and program risks. The division recorded a 12-5 roll-call vote in favor of the deadline.

Committee members said the decision was intended to force the hospital and state leaders to develop long-term, locally based staffing solutions after years of rising contract nursing bills. Representative Carpenter, speaking during the debate, cited pay differentials between state-employed nurses and contract nurses and argued for higher state pay to retain staff. "If we raised it to 50 or $60 an hour, we would still save $30 an hour," Representative Carpenter said.

The vote capped a lengthy hearing in which committee presenters and members described a persistent staffing shortfall at Larned and a heavy reliance on contract nurses. Committee notes and presenters said the hospital has a budgeted capacity of 520 beds and that a specialized program on the campus — referred to in testimony as a predator-treatment program — serves about 280 people. Committee members reported a roughly 69% vacancy rate…