Legislative Update March 28, 2024

On Wednesday, the Senate approved the Dentist and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Licensure Compact (HB 2453) by a vote of 38-2. Both the House and Sente versions of HB 2453 are identical, therefore, the bill now goes to the Governor for her signature. Kansas will be the sixth state to pass legislation to enter the DDH Compact which guarantees Kansas a spot on the Compact Commission which will develop the rules governing the Compact. Seven states must approve the DDH Compact before it is enacted. Currently eleven other states have legislation in various stages of completion to enter the DDH Compact.

Next week the Legislature will be pushing toward its April 5^th “First Adjournment.” Various conference committees will meet including the appropriations conference committee which will negotiate dozens of differences in the House and Senate budget proposals. The KDA will be following the meetings closely, as the Senate has recommended $4.8 million total funds (State with Fed match) to cover preventative dental care in Medicaid for adults. Should the funding be approved, uniform preventative dental coverage for adults will go into effect on July 1, 2024