(Feb. 14, 2024) -Yesterday, the House Social Services Budget Committee, chaired by Representative Les Mason (R-McPherson) met. The committee made recommended changes to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Health. The committee saw the following recommendations:
- $45.2 million all funds, $17.9 million state general funds and raise all Medicaid hospital outpatient hospital reimbursement by 30 percent
- $2 million SGF bridge funding for hospitals operating as Rural Emergency Hospitals but not eligible for the status
- $33.9 all funds, and $13.6 SGF to increase physician reimbursement fees by 15 percent
- Delete $715 million, including $61.8 million SGF, and all fund deletions of $735.6 million from federal funds and 41.1 million from special revenue funds in funding for Governor’s budget proposal for Medicaid expansion
Other adjustments included:
- Centralized State Laboratory Courier Services Funding of $1.1 million
- Oral Health Kansas $4.8 million all funds, $1.9 million state general funds
- Tiny K Alliance infant services $2.0 million state general funds
- Local Health Department investments of $843,493
- $12 million for workforce solutions for benefit verifications in FY 2025
- Community Care Network of Kansas adding $3 million
- $1.8 million for family services targeted case management for Rainbows United in FY 2025
- $3.8 million to increase to $65/hour from $45/hour for children receiving autism services
- $550,000 for Project Access
- $1.9 million all funds to eliminate 5 percent discount on any hospice
The budget will now go before the full House Appropriations committee and The Senate sub-committee will have a hearing on KDHE on Thursday.