(March 22, 2023) – Today, the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill), heard motions from Chairman of the Social Services Budget Committee Les Mason (R-McPherson) and others dealing with the following health-related items:

• The additional funds of $34.4 million to fully rebase the Medicaid rate for nursing facilities and $13.0 million to increase the home and community-based services and frail elderly waiver reimbursement rates.
• $5 million State General Fund for a patient observation program for health care, law enforcement and counties. The committee saw a substitute motion to take the $5 million from the existing Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services budget.
• $7.4 million for intellectual or developmental disabilities/targeted case management rate.
• A budget proviso that dictates in FY 23 and FY 24, there would be no funds spent by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to enforce the provider assessment tax for any hospital that has converted to a Rural Emergency Hospital.
• $22 million Emergency Room Mental Health Bed Expansion for Ascension, American Rescue Plan Act Funds or General Funds if needed.
• $2 million for pregnancy resource centers.
• Budget proviso language related to the redetermination process to ensure the redetermination process doesn't slow down new determinations.

House Substitute for Senate Bill 42 now contains the House budget and now goes to the full House of Representatives for review.