Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB3

Introduced
1/13/25  

Caption

Requiring the department of health and environment to audit hospital compliance with the lay caregiver act and report the results of such audit to the legislature.

Impact

This legislation is expected to amend existing healthcare statutes, specifically regarding how hospitals interact with caregivers and their patients. By requiring hospitals to notify designated caregivers about discharge plans and any aftercare instructions, it aims to ensure that patients receive necessary support in their transition from hospital to home. Furthermore, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be tasked with auditing compliance from hospitals to ensure adherence to these regulations, thereby strengthening accountability.

Summary

Senate Bill 3, known as the Kansas Lay Caregiver Act, focuses on enhancing the support available to patients post-hospital discharge by formalizing the role of designated caregivers. The bill mandates that hospitals provide patients with an opportunity to identify a caregiver before their discharge. This designated caregiver can be a relative, friend, or any individual with a significant relationship with the patient, and will be informed about aftercare needs to facilitate better recovery practices for the patient at home.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding SB3 appears to be positive, with many stakeholders recognizing the value of involving caregivers in patient aftercare. Supporters argue that by providing caregivers with the right information and resources, patient recovery can improve significantly, reducing readmission rates and enhancing overall health outcomes. This act has the potential to streamline communication between hospitals and caregivers, fostering a collaborative environment for patient care.

Contention

However, there are points of contention regarding the bill's implications on hospital operations and the responsibilities of caregivers. Critics highlight concerns that the legislation may inadvertently overload caregivers with responsibilities or place undue pressure on hospitals to effectively manage the designation process. Additionally, questions around what constitutes adequate training for caregivers and the potential liability for hospitals in cases where patients do not have a designated caregiver remain discussions that stakeholders continue to navigate.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2390

House Substitute for HB 2390 by Committee on Public Health and Welfare - Requiring the secretary of health and environment to study drug overdose death cases and providing for the confidentiality of acquired and related records, restricting the authority of the secretary of health and environment and local health officers to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious or contagious diseases and repealing the authority of the secretary to quarantine individuals and impose associated penalties.

KS HB2749

Requiring medical care facilities and providers to report the reasons for each abortion performed at such facility or by such provider to the secretary of health and environment.

KS HB2034

Requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations.

KS HB2285

Requiring the secretary of health and environment to study drug overdose death cases and providing for the confidentiality of related records, restricting the authority of the secretary of health and environment and local health officers to control the spread of infectious or contagious diseases, repealing the authority of the secretary to quarantine individuals and impose penalties for violations thereof and prohibiting the secretary of health and environment from requiring COVID-19 vaccination for children attending a child care facility or school.

KS SB352

Enacting the no patient left alone act to require facilities to allow in-person visitation to certain patients at hospitals, adult care home and patient care facilities.

KS SB233

House Substitute for SB 233 by Committee on Health and Human Services - Enacting the forbidding abuse child transitions act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from treating children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians and nurses.

KS SB287

House Substitute for SB 287 by Committee on Health and Human Services - Prohibiting a healthcare provider from administering medication, diagnostic tests or conducting ongoing behavioral health treatments to a minor in a school facility without parental consent, enacting the no patient left alone act to require medical care facilities to allow in-person visitation in certain circumstances, expanding licensure of rural emergency hospitals that meet criteria between January 2015 and December 2020 and authorizing emergency medical responders to distribute non prescription over-the-counter medications.

KS HB2024

Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices, requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations, enacting the Representative Gail Finney memorial foster care bill of rights, applying the federal Indian child welfare act to certain actions under the revised Kansas code for care of children.

KS HB2264

Requiring notification to patients that the effects of a medication abortion may be reversible and revising the definition of "abortion" to clarify procedures that are excluded from such definition.

KS SB411

Abolishing the division of legislative post audit, creating the statewide elected office of state auditor and enacting the state audit act.

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