SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2039
As Recommended by House Committee on
Health and Human Services
Brief*
HB 2039 would amend statutes relating to home health
agencies to clarify the definition of “home health agency” for
the purposes of credentialing. The bill would exempt from the
definition entities that are not reimbursed by Medicare Part A
and only provide services of persons licensed or certified
under the Physical Therapy Practice Act and Occupational
Therapy Practice Act and persons licensed as speech-
language pathologists.
The bill would also make technical and conforming
changes.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Health and Human Services at the request of Representative
Buehler on behalf of Fox Rehabilitation.
House Committee on Health and Human Services
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by representatives of Fox Rehabilitation and the
Kansas Hospital Association. Conferees generally stated that
the requirements of credentialing for home health agencies
can pose a significant barrier to physical therapists,
occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ working in residential homes in Kansas. An agency providing
these services to a patient who is not home health-service
eligible can provide them under Medicare part B, but are
currently still included under Kansas’ definition of “home
health agency” and are subject to home health licensing and
credentialing.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
representative of Phoenix Home Care and Hospice.
No other testimony was provided.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment and the Kansas Department for Aging and
Disability Services indicate that enactment of the bill would
have no fiscal effect on either agency.
Health; Kansas Credentialing Act; physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech-
language pathology; home health agencies; credentialing
2- 2039