KMS Newsletters

Final Days of the 2025 Session

As we approach the end of the 2025 session, the priorities of the legislature have come into clearer focus. First legislative leaders changed the traditional legislative calendar from ninety business days to ninety calendar days, which significantly compressed the amount of time available for consideration of bills, as well as, passing the state budget, which is one of their primary responsibilities. The legislature has also been clear that providing property tax relief is also a high priority. 

This session marks the first year of a legislative biennium, meaning that issues that were not enacted or did not advance from one body to the opposite chamber in this legislative session will remain alive for consideration in the 2026 session. 

This session we have seen a host of issues introduced that impact the House of Medicine, ranging from public health, workforce issues, Medicaid, and of course the ever-present scope of practice issues, including pharmacists, nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and optometrists all seeking to expand the limits of their authorized practice privileges.

SB 67, the CRNA bill that, as introduced, would essentially dissolve the interdependent relationship between CRNAs and physicians and dentists, with the only limitations being that CRNAs engaging in independent practice could not perform surgery for implantation of medication reservoirs, nor could they perform, induce or prescribe drugs for an abortion. The bill was amended in the Senate committee to limit their independent authority to prescribe drugs and order durable medical equipment, which mirrors the changes made two years ago granting the three other categories of APRNs independent prescribing privileges. The amended bill has passed the Senate and the House health committee and awaits action by the full House of Representatives. 

Similarly, HB 2223 would allow optometrists to perform certain surgical procedures, including the use of lasers, and to prescribe drugs without any limitation. The bill would also allow the board of optometry to authorize any additional procedures for treatment of the eye that weren’t specifically prohibited by the bill. Based on earlier indications from House Leaders, it was believed that because the bill was controversial and lacked a workable compromise between the optometric and medical professions, it wouldn’t advance this session. However, last week the bill was passed out of the House Health Committee at its final meeting this session. Committee members acknowledged that they heard from hundreds of physicians and optometrists before the committee's action on the bill. It is expected to be debated on the House floor next week, and if passed it will move over to the Senate where if it is not acted upon this session due to time constraints, it will remain alive for further consideration next session. 

Legislators generally tend to voice disdain for refereeing these scope of practice issues, as healthcare regulation is complex, often with overlapping roles and responsibilities, competencies, competition, patient safety concerns, and lack of consensus or compromise between the professions. Although there is no substitute for the depth and breadth of medical training, some continue to believe that training in one procedure is equivalent to comprehensive training in differential diagnosis and direction of care, and that limiting scope limits access to care. 

While these facts do not bear out, politics prevail, and timing and messaging are critical. Time will show that when education, training and regulation are not consistent, quality and outcomes for patients suffer. Creating two tiers of medical and surgical care does not serve Kansas patients but instead trades so-called “access” for quality and creates inconsistency in the regulation and delivery of healthcare. We continue to advocate for patients receiving the highest quality care, and for training and regulatory requirements which protect them. 

Hundreds of physicians answered our call to action to attempt to stop this bill in committee, but the timing and pressure likely outweighed our ability to educate and stop this dangerous bill. Please reach out to your legislator TODAY with your concerns about this ill-conceived bill allowing nonphysicians to perform surgery without adequate training or regulation from a board that includes physicians trained in surgery and the practice of medicine.

The 2025 session is in its final days with committee work wrapping up the first part of next week. The Kansas Medical Society advocates for you and your patients every day, year-round. But your voice is especially critical NOW as legislators contemplate bills impacting your patients and consistent, high-quality care.

If you have questions or concerns about legislative matters, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A message from KMS Executive Director, Rachelle Colombo

In the months since the legislature adjourned the 2024 session and schools were let out for summer vacation, several political cycles have passed. June brought the Governor-ordered special session to pass tax relief for Kansas. This task was completed in just two days with a final package very closely resembling the proposals vetoed earlier in the spring. The Legislature also approved a tax incentive package designed to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to the Kansas side of the state line in the coming years. The Governor approved the measure, and the Special Session was over, triggering the beginning of a shortened primary election season.

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It's time to renew your KMS membership for 2025! Kansas physicians are uniquely positioned to serve as both a patient advocate and an advocate for the profession. Your membership enables the Kansas Medical Society to:

• Continue focusing on our mission of advocacy for physicians of all specialties statewide.
• Ensure the physician's voice is well-represented in the legislative & regulatory arenas.
• Improve the practice environment in our state.
• Keep you informed as a member of the state's largest physician association.

Your continued membership is critical to the success of the Kansas Medical Society and the future of the profession. We will continue to focus on our mission and provide unparalleled support to each of you.

We appreciate your consideration in supporting KMS through your renewed membership. Click HERE to pay your dues TODAY!

Elections are open for 2025-2026 KMS Offices. Scan the QR code below to vote online before January 23, 2025.    

Registration is OPEN for KMS Advocacy Day on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas!

Kansas Medical Society’s Advocacy Day offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with your legislative leaders. You will join physicians from across the state, regardless of specialty to ask the hard questions that impact the house of medicine. Please plan to meet with your specialty society, KMS leadership & your peers to inform lawmakers, guide decision-making, and generate support for policies on critical issues that impact physicians, patients, and the healthcare environment for our great state of Kansas. Whether you view advocacy as a responsibility or an option, your community participation, leadership, and collective voices are essential to the House of Medicine’s continued leadership in health care.

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, is the general election for several local, state, and federal elections. Whether it’s deciding on community initiatives, choosing representatives, or shaping policies, participating in elections is one of the most powerful ways to impact the your future of the House of Medicine and our community. Find your sample ballot at https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView.

2024 Special Session Comes and Goes

The Kansas legislature completed a brief Special Session this week after Governor Kelly called lawmakers back to pass a tax reform bill that she would sign. After issuing a handful of vetoes on previously passed tax plans, news broke last week that legislative leaders and the administration brokered a deal on tax relief. Over the course of two days, a joint House and Senate tax committee held an information hearing on the proposal and the legislature quickly debated and passed the bill. With the state sitting on a record $3.5 billion in reserves, the bill awaiting Kelly's signature provides an initial $470 million tax cut with about $380 million annually in cuts starting in FY2026. The major elements of this bill include: 1) moving from 3 rates to 2 tax tiers (5.2% and 5.58%); 2) slight increases in the standard deduction amounts; 3) increase in the personal exemptions; 4) full elimination of income taxes on Social Security income; 5) an increase in the residential property tax exemption; and 6) a 50% child care tax credit.

While the Governor called the Special Session solely for the purpose of passing a tax relief bill, the legislature did use the opportunity to update state STAR (Sales Tax and Revenue) Bond statutes. The proposal, which passed with supermajorities, allows for the Department of Commerce to offer a new class of STAR Bonds for professional sports stadiums that could lure the Kansas City Chiefs and/or Royals to the Sunflower State.

The legislature adjourned until Monday, January 13 for the 2025 regular legislative session. However, legislative leaders will soon assign special committees to study various topics throughout the summer and fall "interim" session. These interim committees typically approve non-binding recommendations for the full legislature to consider when they return for the regular session next January. More to follow on the interim committees as information becomes available.

Medicaid Fee Schedule Increase

A final note about the Medicaid fee schedule increase proposed by KMS and approved by the legislature this spring. KDHE is in the process of filing the necessary documents with CMS, which must approve the fee schedule increase. As of now, it appears that the process should be completed in time for the 9% increase to take effect for dates of services provided on and after August 1.

Looking Ahead to Election

All 165 legislative seats are up for election this year. Republican leaders hope they can retain or grow their supermajorities in the House and Senate. Of course, Democrats will be working hard to erode the veto-proof GOP majorities. After the early June filing deadline, a picture of the slate of candidates took shape. Here is a snapshot of the field as we head into the Primary Election on August 6:

• 18 House and 11 Senate incumbents did not seek reelection.
• 9 State Representatives filed to seek election to the Senate, while 1 Senator filed for a House seat.
• 43 House (27 Rs/16 Ds) and 5 Senate (3 Rs/2 Ds) candidates have neither a Primary nor a General Election opponent.
• Democrats fielded candidates in 92 of 125 House races and 34 of 40 Senate seats.
• 9 House races and 4 Senate races are Primary contests only.

Join KaMPAC Today!

The Kansas Medical Society Political Action Committee (KaMPAC) is guided by an independent, non-partisan board of physicians from across the state. They evaluate each candidate and race and seek to support candidates willing to listen to physicians' concerns when policy-making. KaMPAC does not give to statewide races or to political parties. The legislature has the most significant impact on the practice of medicine in Kansas and as such, we engage in direct campaign contributions to legislative candidates. KaMPAC's goal is to help elect fair-minded candidates who put responsible public policy above politics. If you haven't already, please join KaMPAC today, and help us make an impact on the elections this fall.

2024 Session Ends

The Kansas legislature completed a brief “veto session” and formally adjourned the 2024 regular session early on May 1st, meaning the full legislature won’t return until next January unless a special session is called by the Governor. Before adjourning, the Legislature considered several vetoes and successfully overrode Governor Kelly’s vetoes on many, including on budget line items. Notably, though, the legislature was again unable to muster enough votes to override the Governor’s veto of another major tax reform bill. In response, the legislature kicked out a tax plan similar to one Kelly vetoed. She has pledged to veto this most recent (and bipartisan) bill and call a special session. However, because the legislature already formally adjourned the 2024 regular session, legislators will not have an opportunity to override any more vetoes, including this last tax bill. Enacting a tax reform bill during a special session would require the introduction of an entirely new bill, as all legislation in a special session must start from scratch.

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