(Feb. 13, 2026) – Today, the House Insurance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2736, which requires hospitals to screen all patients for eligibility for each hospital's financial assistance program or charity care policy.

The committee heard opposition testimony from the Kansas Hospital Association, Trice Watts of Greeley County Health Services, Tribune and Tori Bowers of Memorial Health System, Abilene.

The committee also held a hearing on House Bill 2703, which enacts the Kansas Health Insurance Affordability Transparency Act to require a report that specifies the financial impact on covered individuals resulting from the passage of certain health insurance legislation.

The committee also recommended for passage House Bill 2551. The committee added language related to allowing a small chain pharmacy to communicate with a Pharmacy Benefit Manager. The committee cited concerns about the impacts on small local pharmacies.

It was not recommended favorably for passage.

The committee next took up House Bill 2564, which provides for the selection of alternative payment methods by a dental provider and allows such a payment method to remain in force for the duration of a contract with a dental benefit plan.

The committee recommended favorable passage.