Capitol Comments Articles
Budget Committees Hear KDHE-Health Budget

Budget Plan (Feb. 28, 2024) – Today, the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill) heard the sub-committee report on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Health Budget. The report out, presented by Representative Les Mason (R-McPherson), included an overview of Governor Laura Kelly's proposed budget, as well as adjustments made by the House Committee on Social Service budget. The adjustments include deleting Medicaid expansion and adding $45.2 million to increase outpatient Medicaid rates by 30 percent, adding $33.9 million to increase Medicaid physician rates by 15 percent, and adding $2 million for payments for rural emergency hospitals that have operated as a REH but not had the designation in Kansas. The committee made the following adjustments from the sub-committee changes:

  • Removed $1.1 million in State General Funds to continue to provide statewide courier servicers to laboratory clients for fiscal year 2025.
  • Moved to discuss the $4.8 million to extend Medicaid coverage for dental exams, x-rays and cleanings for FY 2025.
  • Requested more details on $2.0 million in Tiny-K at omnibus budget.
  • Deferred discussion eligibility for workforce solutions to the Omnibus.
  • Recommended moving $3.0 million in investments in federally qualified health centers to address uncompensated care to discuss further at Omnibus.

The House Appropriations Committee also worked on the budgets for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee also met to hear the report out on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Health Budget. The committee heard the sub-committee report presented by Senator Carolyn McGinn (R-Sedgwick), who highlighted investments such as $8 million in mental health investments and Medicaid expansion funds. The committee made no adjustments from the sub-committee report, but noted they would like to revisit the $8 million in how the mental health investments are allocated for uncompensated care in hospitals with mental health beds across Kansas.

The budget committees in the House and Senate will continue to work on budgets throughout the week.