Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB354

Introduced
1/17/24  
Refer
1/18/24  

Caption

Designating facilities where elective abortions are performed as being ineligible to purchase professional liability insurance from the healthcare stabilization fund.

Impact

If enacted, SB354 could have widespread implications for reproductive healthcare services within Kansas. The bill effectively removes a layer of support for facilities providing elective abortions by cutting off their access to a crucial source of professional liability coverage. Opponents of the bill argue that this could lead to increased operational costs for these facilities, potentially driving up prices for patients or forcing some providers to halt their services altogether. If fewer providers are willing to offer elective abortion services due to financial pressures, access to these healthcare options would become limited, particularly affecting vulnerable populations who rely on such services.

Summary

Senate Bill 354 proposes significant changes to the professional liability insurance landscape for healthcare providers in Kansas, specifically targeting facilities where elective abortions are performed. Under the provisions of the bill, these facilities will be deemed ineligible to access professional liability insurance from the healthcare stabilization fund, meaning they will need to seek alternative sources for coverage. This requirement aims to ensure that facilities conducting elective abortions maintain continuous professional liability insurance equivalent to that offered by the healthcare stabilization fund, a license condition that adds further financial responsibility on these entities.

Contention

The bill has sparked a heated debate in the legislature and among the public. Supporters of SB354 contend that it places necessary restrictions on facilities performing elective abortions, citing concerns over accountability and patient safety. They argue that it is essential that such facilities should be held to rigorous standards and oversight regarding professional liability. On the other hand, critics view the bill as an attempt to undermine women's reproductive rights and an act of politicizing healthcare—a tactic that may have unintended consequences on the availability of essential services for women in Kansas.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2509

Allowing licensed physical therapists to perform certain capillary blood tests, adding advanced practice registered nurse to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act, adding an advanced practice registered nurse position to the board of governors of the healthcare stabilization fund and requiring advance practice registered nurses to maintain professional liability insurance as a condition of active licensure.

KS SB41

Adding advanced practice registered nurses to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act.

KS HB2071

Enacting the help not harm act to restrict the use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibit healthcare providers from providing gender transition whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorize a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, require professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment and prohibit 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.

KS SB63

Enacting the help not harm act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from providing gender transition care to 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.

KS HB2366

Expanding the scope of practice of naturopathic doctors, specifying continuing education requirements, increasing the required amount of professional liability insurance and modifying certain provisions relating to the licensure and regulations of naturopathic doctors.

KS HB2039

Adding maternity center to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act, amending definitions in the Kansas credentialing act to provide that certain entities providing physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology are not home health agencies, clarifying that the authorized activities of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical responders may be authorized upon the order of a healthcare professional, permitting certain ambulance services to offer service for less than 24 hours per day, every day of the year, and requiring entities that control automated external defibrillators to register the device with the emergency medical services board.

KS HB2298

Transferring $1,000,000,000 from the budget stabilization fund to the liability reduction fund of KPERS, using a portion of the interest earnings of the liability reduction fund to provide a 2% COLA for retirants who have been retired for more than 5 years, transferring annually certain amounts from the state general fund to the budget stabilization fund and establishing requirements for the expenditure or transfer of moneys from the budget stabilization fund.

KS SB579

Nursing homes and certified nursing facilities; professional liability insurance.

KS SB1152

Nursing homes and certified nursing facilities; professional liability insurance, proof of coverage.

KS HB1320

To Amend The Law Concerning Crisis Stabilization Units And Healthcare Insurers.

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HI HB1574

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SC S0346

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HI SB299

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HI SB299

Relating To Loan Repayment For Healthcare Professionals.

HI HB213

Relating To Loan Repayment For Healthcare Professionals.

HI HB213

Relating To Loan Repayment For Healthcare Professionals.