MDNews - Greater Kansas

W ITH THE 2018 Kansas Legislative session is in full swing, we caught up with several physicians serving Kansans at the statehouse to get a sense of how bills currently in the works could impact physicians throughout the state in the years to come. Senator Barbara Bollier, MD, graduated from University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her anesthesia residency in Houston, Texas. She practiced for 13 years at Surgicenter of Kansas City, is past-president of the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists and was a delegate for the American Society of Anesthesiology. Her husband, Rene Bollier, MD, is a family practice physician. Dr. Barbara Bollier retired from her practice and became an active volunteer at the Center for Practical Bioethics, which included a faculty position in the masters program at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Representative John Eplee, MD, says he has a calling to be a family physician and has practiced family medicine in Atchison, Kansas, serving patients from cradle to grave. After attending more than 1,600 births, he retired from delivering babies but continues to see patients in his clinic when the legislature is not in session. Dr. Eplee serves Atchison and Doniphan counties as the representative for District 63. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OR PIECES OF HEALTHCARE-RELATED LEGISLATION BEING WORKED AT THE STATEHOUSE THIS SESSION? Rep. Eplee: The most significant piece of legislation that I am aware of and have worked on this session is HB 2674, the Telemedicine Act. We have worked on this bill for two years and finally got it passed out of the Health and Human Services Committee and the House Chamber. This bill would provide healthcare services to patients in remote sites and in areas that do not have the full capacity for specialty medical services required for some patients. In simple terms, this will provide much better access to all patients throughout the state. Getting the medical insurance folks to agree to coverage parity for telemedicine services was a big plus to move the bill forward. Sen. Bollier: The most significant challenge is the lack of health insurance by so many individuals, which is further compounded by the refusal of the governor to allow Medicaid expansion. We have introduced legislation to ensure parity of payment and appropri- ate regulation of telemedicine, but the bill has been hijacked by Kansans for Life, so it may not be passed. These issues have huge implications on the overall health of Kansas residents, which then impacts those trying to care for them as practitioners. WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF INITIATIVES TO EXPAND KANCARE, AND FROM THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT COULD BE THE PROS AND CONS OF ANY CURRENT LEGISLATION? S en . Bollier: SB 38 , Med ica id ex pa n sion , pa ssed t he Senate Public Hea lth and Welfare Committee. The Senate has over 21 votes to pass it out to the governor, but does not have a constitutiona l majority to override a veto. We passed a bill last year that requires major overhaul of the KanCare system, which should greatly improve both the accessibility and the qua lity of the care Medicaid recipients are given. The pros a re too numerous to count, a nd the only cons a re the possible expense from the State Genera l Fund. Rep. Eplee: This session, the bill was commenced on the Senate side a nd was passed out of the Hea lth a nd Welfa re Committee favorably, but it has not yet come 'above the line' to a full Senate vote. In an election year it may sit there and not come to a vote. I a lso feel reasonably confident that even if Ka nCa re expa nsion did pass out of both cha mbers that Governor Je Colyer would likely veto, and it would end up like last year. The biggest modification I would like to see instituted is to insert a work requirement, rather than a 'work referra l' (in the current bill). I think this would be more widely accepted by the entire legislature and Kansan voters. WHAT CHANGES IN THE HEALTHCARE WORLD DO YOU SEE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND ARE THERE OTHER HAPPENINGS OR PROPOSALS THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY SHOULD WEIGH IN ON OR FOLLOW CLOSELY? Rep. Eplee: Other issues to be aware of are bills that relate to a substance called kratom, for which eorts are being brought to ban in Kansas. This has already occurred in five other states, but it is highly controversial because Kratom currently is classified as a supplement and not a drug. Additionally, there is ongoing discussion about CBD oil and its association with the Industrial Hemp bill currently in the Agriculture Committee. Sen. Bollier: Telemedicine regulation/payment must be addressed. We have so many bills pending, and nearly everything we do impacts the health of Kansans, so I encourage all practitioners to stay abreast of what is happening legislatively. With the busy schedules you maintain, my advice is to read summaries by KMS that are sent out regularly. Current bills may be reviewed at kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/ committees/ctte_s_phw_1/ ■ CURRENT LEGISLATION BY SARAH GOODING Doctors Weigh In on Senator Barbara Bollier, MD Representative John Eplee, MD 0 6❱❱❱❱❱ S T A T E H O U S E U P D A T E

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