(Jan. 21, 2025) – Today, the House Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on the first bill of the 2026 session before them. The committee held a hearing on House Bill 2436, relating to rendering medical assistance; allowing for the use of expired opioid antagonists to treat an opioid overdose.
Proponents:
- Rep. Pat Proctor
- Drew Atkins, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
- Chrissy Meyer, DCCCA
- Ed Klumpp, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police
- Amber Saale, Private Citizen
- Stacy Rogers, Private Citizen
Rep. Pat Proctor (R-Leavenworth) stated he didn't know about the Fentanyl problem until he came to Kansas. Leavenworth has had between 30-50 overdoses depending on the year, with about a dozen of those ending in fatalities. Aggressive border and immigration laws haven't seemed to have an effect. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported they've seized enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Kansas five times over. Last year's bill removed barriers for law enforcement to carry Nalozone, but it's expensive, and in small towns and counties, they have to throw away the expired by statute, even though it remains effective for years.
Chrissy Meyer reported DCCCA provided more than 130,000 Nalozone kits across Kansas. $1.3 million was spent on the drug last year. Studies have shown samples are effective in extreme temperatures and after 30 years. This legislation would ensure that effective products are not being disgarded.
Committee members asked:
- Is the expiration date was two years?
- What is the half life of it?
- Answer: Half Life is a few minutes, but the expireation date is another thing. Some companies have a very short life because they want to sell more. Drugs like this have an expiration date, but because of decreased efficacy, maybe 98 percent strength.
The committee also received an update from KDADS Secretary Laura Howard on KDADS and Behavioral Health Services accomplishments and priorities. She noted:
- Kansas rose in Mental Health America ranking from 22 to 17.
- $72 million was granted to three states (KS, IL and MI) for the CCBHC Transformation Project Grant Award from the Ballmer Group.
- $26 million in crisis funding went to providers for answering the 988 hotline, which had a 90 percent answer rate.
- 7.8 million was awarded for the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence.
She also discussed aspirations for CCBHC and long-term support services. The agency discussed state hospitals, their credentialing and survey process, as well as their priorities for 2026.
The committee will continue meeting throughout the end.