Social Services committee backs higher funding for four state hospitals; Larned gets $30M boost

Social Services Committee on the state legislature recommended increased funding for four state psychiatric hospitals and sent those recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations after a series of motions and voice votes.

Committee members focused first on Larned State Hospital, where agency witnesses described high staff vacancy rates and the agency's continuing reliance on expensive contract staffing to keep beds open. Scott Brunner, Deputy Secretary, said the agency used reappropriated dollars and higher-than-budgeted Medicaid revenue to cover contract staff this fiscal year and that fully staffing existing state positions would cost roughly $34 million and require hiring about 350 people. Brunner described a practice of delaying vendor payments and using journal vouchering to bridge timing gaps until appropriations arrive.

Lawmakers debated how much of the governor's or agency request to restore after the Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) deleted certain reappropriations. Representative Angela Carpenter proposed restoring $30 million for Larned's contract staffing fund (reducing a $32 million gap by accounting for about $1.5 million in unspent SGF reappropriations). The committee made the motion, put it to a voice vote and approved it; the chair said the committee will present that recommendation to Appropriations next week.

The committee then reviewed Osawatomie Hospital. The agency had requested a substantial enhancement to address contract nursing shortages (the governor and agency sought roughly $11 million for that purpose). A motion to restore the full $11 million failed on a voice vote after members signaled concern the amount would not survive Appropriations. Representative Daniel Rivas offered an alternative motion to add $8 million for Osawatomie in FY2025; the committee approved that motion and later approved the same $8 million for FY2026. Representative Orpiza successfully moved to add two psychologists for Osawatomie — an enhancement of $253,723 for FY2026 — and the committee approved that amendment.

Parsons State Hospital and the hospital identified in the packet as KNI (K and I) drew less debate: the committee accepted the Legislative Budget Committee recommendations for both facilities without amendment.

The committee’s recommendations reflect concern about immediate patient-care needs, vacancy-driven reliance on contract labor and the limited time left in the fiscal year to spend newly appropriated dollars. Committee members repeatedly emphasized that their recommended amounts are intended as what they believe can be justified to Appropriations, not necessarily the total amount hospital leadership said would meet all needs.

Votes at a glance: - Larned State Hospital (FY2025): Committee recommended adding $30,000,000 to the contract staffing fund (motion by Rep. Angela Carpenter). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Notes: Chair indicated recommendation will be presented to House Appropriations; no roll-call tally recorded in transcript. - Osawatomie Hospital (FY2025): Motion to restore $11,000,000 enhancement (failed on voice vote). Alternative motion to add $8,000,000 (mover: Rep. Daniel Rivas; second: Rep. Ballard). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Osawatomie Hospital (FY2026): Committee recommended same $8,000,000 for FY2026 and also approved adding two psychologists ($253,723) for FY2026 (motion by Rep. Orpiza). Outcome: approved (voice votes). - Parsons State Hospital (FY2025 & FY2026): Committee accepted Legislative Budget Committee recommendation (no change). Outcome: approved (voice votes). - KNI Hospital (FY2025 & FY2026): Committee accepted Legislative Budget Committee recommendation (no change). Outcome: approved (voice votes).

What lawmakers emphasized and what remains unsettled Committee members repeatedly noted the gap between what hospital leaders say is needed to fully staff campuses and what the committee believes it can successfully advocate for in Appropriations. Several members described the committee’s actions as a pragmatic compromise: partial restorations intended to keep beds open and reduce immediate risk while recognizing the fiscal scrutiny these requests will face in Appropriations. Several members said they expect the Appropriations deliberations to be “lively.”

Ending The committee approved its package of recommendations for the four hospitals and will present them to the House Committee on Appropriations next week. The transcript records voice votes and motions but not detailed roll-call vote tallies; the chair and staff indicated the intent to present the committee’s amended figures to Appropriations for further consideration.