Kansas bill advances to Senate, could ease healthcare staffing shortages

The Kansas House has approved a bill allowing the continuation of a temporary waiver on some healthcare licensure requirements, a help to healthcare facilities facing staffing shortages. The bill goes before the Senate for a vote on Thursday, Jan. 20.

Representatives voted 106-5 in favor of the bill.

House Bill 2477 renews authorization for expanded practice by certain health care providers and suspends certain licensure and other requirements for adult care homes. The House said the bill would temporarily codify provisions of Executive Orders 22-01 and 22-02, which were issued by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Jan. 6, 2022, with her state of disaster emergency declaration.

According to the House, adult care homes and health care providers will be afforded the flexibility to meet staffing demands without the need for a state of disaster emergency. It said the bill will provide hospitals and adult care homes with the necessary tools to address staffing challenges and ensure access to care for patients.

The bill also suspends the licensing procedures in adult care homes and gives them the flexibility to meet their staffing demands. The current bill extends the order through May but some say the crisis will likely continue beyond that.

The bill now heads to the Senate for a committee hearing Jan. 19 and possible vote Jan. 20. The governor’s orders expire Friday.