(Feb. 2, 2026) – Today, the House Health and Human Services Committee held hearings on several bills.

House Bill 2509 adds advanced practice registered nurse to the definition of health care provider for purposes of the Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act.

Proponent testimony was provided by Rachelle Colombo with the Kansas Medical Society.

Opposition testimony was provided by Dustin Baker with the Kansas Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Association.

Neutral testimony was provided by Clark Shultz with the Health Care Stabilization Fund.

House Bill 2364 prohibits certain health insurers from requiring cost-sharing for nonopioid prescription drugs or from providing less favorable coverage for those drugs than for opioid or narcotic drugs.

The committee received proponent testimony from Anna Custer-Singh, Brenna Winn, Billy O'Bryan, Young People in Recovery, Kathy Sapp, the American Chronic Pain Association and Chris Fox of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices.

The committee saw bill introductions on topics related to:

• Pharmacists scope of practice;
• Adult care homes and resident rights and using pharmacy of choice without additional charges;
• Caps on charges for electronic health records and allowing relatives access to deceased relatives health records; 
• Aesthetics and Athletic Trainers' Compact for interstate licensure privileges; and
• Dealing with managed care organization accountability, and state hospital screenings to be allowed to be performed via telemedicine.

These bills will be assigned numbers in the coming days. The committee will meet again tomorrow.