Kansas committee hears bill to exclude outpatient therapy-only providers from home‑health definition

At a hearing of the Kansas Senate Health and Public Welfare Committee, members heard testimony on House Bill 2039, which would amend the definition of “home health agency” in the Kansas Credentialing Act (KSA 65-5101) to exclude entities that only provide physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech‑language pathology and are not reimbursed by Medicare Part A.

Committee staff member Jenna delivered the bill brief, saying the measure would add language to subsection (c)(2) of KSA 65-5101 to clarify that entities not reimbursed by Medicare Part A and that provide only the three therapy services would not be required to meet home health agency licensure and regulation. Jenna told the committee the bill would take effect upon publication and in the statute book on July 1 and that it passed the Kansas House by a 119‑0 vote.

The bill’s oral proponent, Stephanie Underwood, general counsel for Fox Rehabilitation, told the committee Fox is an outpatient provider that bills Medicare Part B and operates in 36 states plus the District…