This Week in the Legislature

Activity in the Kansas Legislature is at a frenzied pace with the deadline for the introduction of bills by committee having been today.  Most legislative committees have a full schedule of bills on their agenda for public hearing as the deadline for bills to be passed out of the “House of Origin” is February 24.

KDHA Introduces Bill to Change Dental Board Representation

The Kansas Dental Hygienists’ Association (KDHA) asked for introduction of a bill last week to change the representation on the Kansas Dental Board to four dentists, four dental hygienists and one public member.  Currently there are six dentists, two dental hygienists and one public member on the Board.  KDHA has explained that they do not believe there concerns are adequately considered with the present Board makeup.  At this time there is not a hearing scheduled on the bill.  Please see HB 2417 below for more information. 

Dental Board Meets Today

The Kansas Dental Board met earlier today with a large portion of the meeting time spent hashing through the issue of dental hygiene and dental school externships.  The Board is moving cautiously to ensure the end product is well thought out and does not jeopardize current legitimate school-clinic externship relationships. 

KMOM-Topeka is a Wrap

After months of planning, KMOM-Topeka wrapped up late Saturday evening, February 3 having provided $1,052,000 in free dental services to 1815 patients.  As remarkable as those numbers are, it’s the individual stories shared by the patients and the gratitude expressed by them that make KMOM so worthwhile for the many volunteers.  Most would agree that blistered hands, sore feet and stiff backs are a small price to pay for the hundreds of patients that waited outside in subzero conditions early Friday and Saturday morning to receive much needed dental care.  As of today, patients are still calling the KDA/KDCF office with post-op issues.  In all, about 50 patients have called seeking post op care.

Licensure Renewal

The Kansas Dental Board reports that 1,952 dentists have renewed their license.  Eighty-four have yet to renew.  Dentists who do not renew their license by February 28 will be required to begin the licensure procedure as if they have never been licensed. 

Legislators Tour KMOM

The KDA invited all legislators to visit KMOM on Friday, February 2.  Unfortunately, committee conflicts kept many from attending, however, a few legislators did find the time to attend KMOM including Sen. Vickie Schmidt (R)-Topeka, Rep. Annie Teitze (D)-Topeka, Rep. Mark Rhoades (R)-Newton, Rep. Sue Storm (D)-Prairie Village and Rep. Marti Crow (D)-Leavenworth.  The legislators that attended were very complimentary of the mission and organization of KMOM. 

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

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 82 does not apply directly to dentistry, but the KDA is monitoring it very closely as it would allow would allow school of chiropractic medicine and osteopathy an exemption from the corporate practice prohibition in the healing arts act.  The bill was modified in the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare and passed by the full Senate this past week. 

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.  A hearing was held in the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare and recommended favorably for passage.  The bill was amended at the suggestion of the KDA to allow dental hygienists to apply topical anesthesia under general supervision.

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.

HB 2417 is a bill introduced by KDHA that would change the makeup of the dental board to four dentists, four dental hygienists and one public member.  Currently there are six dentists, two dental hygienists and one public member.  The bill is assigned to the House Committee on Health and Human Services. 

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. 

SB 273 would add dentistry to the “healthcare prompt payment act.”  This would require a dental insurance carrier to pay a clean dental claim within 30 days of receipt.  The bill is assigned to the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance and a hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, February 13.

HB 2272 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 has been assigned to the House Committee on Insurance.

HB 2273 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 has been assigned to the House Committee on Insurance.

Public Health

SB 37 would prohibit tobacco smoking in all indoor public places except a “cigar-tobacco bar.”  The Senate Committee on Judiciary has advanced the bill without a recommendation to the Senate floor. 

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 is assigned to the Senate Committee on Education where a hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, February 13. 

SB 302 would create the “controlled substance monitoring task force” that would implement a program to monitor controlled substances.  The task force would be made up of 11 members including a person appointed by the Kansas Dental Association.  The bill is assigned to the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare.

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 KDA presented testimony in the House Committee on Taxation, but no action has been taken at this time.   

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 has been held.

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