(Oct. 13, 2025) – Today, the Joint Robert G. Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community-Based Services and KanCare Oversight met to make recommendations that will be considered during the 2026 legislative session.
The recommendations included:
- Clarification that the Bethell Committee will meet in April and won't tie into the legislative session. A bill will start in the Senate.
- Removing and clarifying that prior authorization requirements for repairs of complex wheelchairs are not needed, and directing stakeholders to clarify an ongoing solution before January.
- Long-term care ombudsman requests legislation to address the financial disincentives for residents of a long-term care facility to obtain medications from a pharmacy of their choice.
- Requests the governor appoint the Bethell chair, vice chair and ranking minority member to the Rural Health Transformation Grant Review Committee, but this will require LCC approval before submitting the request to the governor.
- Suggesting an informational hearing on artificial intelligence in the health and human services and Senate public health committees, with an emphasis on behavioral health and counseling services.
- The state should establish an independent survey process and oversight committee for long-term care that includes the long-term care industry.
- A bill should be passed to update the eligibility language for the Children's Health Insurance Program to permanent rather than by annual proviso.
- Directs the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to explore adding a modifier for mobile sedation dentistry providers and send a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services encouraging them to explore a specific code for mobile sedation providers.
- Consider providing funds for an additional 500 currently on the Intellectual/Developmentally Disabled waiver list.
- Continue supporting the community support waiver.
These recommendations will be sent for further consideration in the 2026 session. The committee will meet again in January.