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Board of Pharmacy warns K‑TRACS gateway funding loss could reduce PDMP use; lawmakers consider state support
Summary
The Board of Pharmacy told the committee the federal supplemental award that supported the K‑TRACS gateway was canceled; the gateway—costing roughly $600,000 a year—accounts for about 83% of K‑TRACS queries and the board and legislators discussed options including a legislative funding request to keep the gateway statewide.
The Kansas Board of Pharmacy told the Committee on Social Services Budget that an expected supplemental federal award to support the K‑TRACS gateway was canceled late last year, creating a funding gap for the gateway service that integrates the state’s prescription drug monitoring data into clinical and pharmacy workflows.
Alexander Blasi, Executive Secretary of the Board of Pharmacy, said the K‑TRACS software itself will continue to operate but the gateway that embeds K‑TRACS in providers’ electronic health records and pharmacy systems has been supported historically by periodic federal grants and opioid‑settlement money. "K Tracks ... is not going away. That is going to continue to operate. We have the funding to do that," Blasi said, adding that the gateway—the integration piece—has been supported by outside grant funding and is expensive to operate at scale, "about $600,000 a year give or take." He said gateway queries account for about 83% of K‑TRACS use and that roughly 2,251 facilities are integrated.
Blasi said the supplemental award that had been counted on to sustain gateway operations was canceled on Sept.16; the board applied immediately for the 2025 grant and is exploring alternate funding, including opioid settlement dollars. He noted that if statewide funding lapses, individual entities may privately contract with the vendor but at much higher, per‑licensee cost.
Representative Orpiza urged drafting a recommendation for State General Fund support to preserve the gateway, noting rural hospitals and critical access facilities could be disproportionately affected by per‑licensee fees. Several members and staff said they would like staff to draft language for a possible funding recommendation.
Next steps: Board staff will pursue grant opportunities and notify the committee when awards are awarded; committee staff and members will explore drafting a State General Fund recommendation to sustain the gateway if federal funds do not materialize.
