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KDHE says COVID‑era lab courier funding ends; rural counties told to find alternatives for time‑sensitive tests
Summary
KDHE announced reductions to a courier service used to deliver lab and water samples to the state lab after COVID funds ended; the cuts reduce covered pickups from 464 environmental and 132 health clients to 192 environmental and 58 health clients and transfer shipping responsibility to local partners after July 1, 2026.
Ashley Gose, deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), told the Legislative Budget Committee that the state courier service established with COVID-era federal funding in 2021 has been reduced as those federal funds expired and KDHE worked to stretch remaining funds through July 2026.
KDHE said the courier service reduced routes and client coverage to preserve available funding. Prior to July 1, 2025, the courier serviced roughly 464 environmental clients and about 132 health clients; after the route reductions KDHE serves about 192 environmental clients and 58 health clients. KDHE said clients dropped from the courier service must now fund shipping through local budgets. KDHE staff told the committee that roughly 78% of specimens the laboratory receives are “time sensitive,” and that some tests require processing within tight time windows — in rare cases 30 hours from collection — or samples must be recollected.
KDHE staff said they have explored alternatives such as commercial carriers (FedEx/UPS) and found that the major constraint for very rural counties is reliable same‑day or next‑day pickup and guaranteed transit times; some rural localities lack regular carrier pickups or drop locations. KDHE told the committee it is continuing to evaluate carrier options, obtain quotes and coordinate with local health departments and water suppliers.
Why this matters: The courier reduction shifts operating costs and logistics to local health departments and public water systems. For tight-turnaround tests — for example, some microbial water quality or clinical specimens — the loss of routine same‑day pickup can mean delayed results, the need for sample recollection, and delayed public‑health actions such as issuing or lifting boil-water advisories.
Ending: KDHE said it will continue reaching out to local partners, attempt to secure carrier contracts where feasible and evaluate cost-effective alternatives. Committee members urged KDHE to collect and share information on local costs and carrier availability so legislators can assess whether targeted funding might be needed to preserve time‑sensitive testing in rural areas.
