This Week in the Legislature

Activity in the Kansas Legislature is picking up with many bills being introduced this week as the deadline for bill introductions by individual legislator’s approaches. 

Assignment of Benefit Bills Introduced

Two bills (one in each the House and Senate) were introduced this past week requiring insurance policies to contain provisions to allow enrollees to assign their benefit directly to a provider.  The KDA has been advocating “assignment of benefit” recently and will enthusiastically be supporting these bills.  See SB 175 and HB 2??? below. 

KMOM-Topeka to Cause Changes to KDA Update and Office Schedule

As a result of KMOM-Topeka scheduled for February 1-4 (including setup and tear down) the KDA office will be closed on Thursday, February 1 and Friday, February 2 as all KDA staff will be working at the event.  Feel free to call the KDA office on these days and leave a message on any staff person’s voicemail, but be aware we will not be able to respond until the week of February 5.  Also as a result of KMOM-Topeka, the February 2 issue of KDA Update will not be available until February 5 or 6.  Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you.

No Dental Day 2007 – KDA to Team Up with OHK Advocacy Day

Due to the timing of KMOM-Topeka falling on the traditional day of the KDA’s annual Kansas legislative event, there will be no Dental Day this year.  The KDA and KDCF are inviting House and Senate members to tour KMOM on the morning of Friday, February 2.  We hope that legislators will learn more about KMOM and have the chance to meet dentists volunteering from their districts.

In addition, the KDA Executive Committee accepted and invitation to co-sponsor the Oral Health Kansas (OHK) Advocacy Day on February 21-23.  In addition to OHK, the KDA is joining the Kansas Dental Hygienists’ Association as a sponsor of the event.  Look for Advocacy Day invitations to be mailed soon.

Board of Delegates to Meet

Board delegates and alternate delegates should mark the KDA Board of Delegates meeting on their calendars for Thursday, March 15.  The meeting will start at 1:30 P.M. at the Hyatt-Crown Center in Kansas City in conjunction with the UMKC’s Midwest Dental Conference.  Look for other KDA Council/Committees to be held on Thursday, March 15 as well.

Dental Issues Status

The 2007 Legislative Session begins a new two-year session.  All Senate Bills (SB) will be new beginning with SB 1.  All House Bills (HB) will begin with HB 2001.

Dental Practice

SB 176 is the bill that amends the dental hygienist Extended Care Permit (ECP) provisions passed in 2002.  The bill reduces the amount clinical experience hours to qualify for an ECP I from 1,800 to 1,200 hours; creates a method for previously qualified dental hygienists’ to qualify if they have been in a non-clinical or not practicing in the previous five years; modifies the practice settings to better identify underserved populations, and; allows ECP dental hygienists to apply topical anesthetic.  The KDA Board of Delegates reviewed and approved the proposed bill at its November meeting.  The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Public Health.

HB 2214 would authorize the Kansas Dental Board (KDB) to deny, revoke suspend or limit a dentist’s sedation permit.  This is current practice, however, the KDB’s recent review of the sedation and anesthesia rules and regulations brought into question its authority to do so.  The bill is assigned to the House Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2215 would establish a maximum fee of $200 for the Kansas Dental Board (KDB) to charge for certain permits.  The KDB currently charges licensee for sedation and other permits, however, HB 2215 will validate that practice.  The bill is assigned to the House Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2216 is the Dental Board’s bill that will change the biennial licensure schedule of dentists and dental hygienists.  Currently, all dentists renew their license in odd years and dental hygienists renew in even years.  The new method will mix dentist and dental hygienist licensure renewal based on the licensee’s license number.  As a result, about half of the dental hygienists and dentists that renew in 2008 and 2009 respectively will have a one-time one year renewal. The bill is assigned to the House Committee on Health and Human Services.

Mercury

SB 1 is similar to bills that the KDA has monitored in past years that would prohibit mercury-based thimerosol in vaccines.  Unlike past bills, SB 1 provides that the Secretary of Health may exempt a vaccine containing thimerosol if there is a vaccine shortage, epidemic, bioterrorist incident, etc.  SB 1 was introduced by Senate minority leader Anthony Hensley and Senator Dennis Wilson.  The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Public Health.

Insurance

SB 175 would require all insurance policies to contain a provision to allow for the assignment of benefits directly to a provider of the care. The bill is assigned to the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance. 

HB 2??? is similar to SB 175 as it would require all insurance policies to contain a provision to allow for the assignment of benefits directly to a provider of the care. The bill was introduced in committee, however, it has not been given a bill number or assigned to a committee. 

HB 2??? is the “health care price transparency act.”  It would require each health insurance carrier and health provider to publicly disclose their rates for certain and common health or medical services.  Dentistry is not included in the bill.  The bill was introduced in committee, however, it has not been given a bill number or assigned to a committee. 

Public Health

SB 37 would prohibit tobacco smoking in all indoor public places except a “cigar-tobacco bar.”  The bill is assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary where a hearing was held this past week.

SB 170 would establish criteria for the types of beverages that are available in elementary and junior high/middles schools.  Permissible beverages are defined….not to include carbonated and high sugar drinks.  The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Education.

HB 2243 would prohibit the use of tobacco within or on the property of a medical care facility (this does not include a dental office).  The bill is assigned to the House Committee on Health and Human Services.

Charitable Work

HB 2102 would allow healthcare professionals who donate their time to indigent patients at significantly reduced or no cost to apply through a nonprofit community service organization to apply for a tax credit at the rate of $50/hour.  The tax credit would cap at $3,000/year/ taxpayer.  The bill is assigned to the House Committee on Taxation where a hearing is scheduled on Thursday, February 1 at 9:00 A.M.   

Government Administrative

SB 16 would authorize the Joint Committee on Children’s Issues to introduce legislation.  This Committee has been in existence since 1999 usually meets during the Legislative Interim.  This bill would provide the Committee with more power to carry outs it legislative charge.  SB 16 is assigned to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means where a hearing was held this past week. 

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