Kansas House Bill HB2718

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/26
• Refer: 2/5/26

Caption

Creating a right for an adult care home resident to use such resident's pharmacy of choice without being charged a fee or financial penalty by the adult care home because of such choice.

Summary

HB 2718 creates a new resident right for people living in adult care homes to choose their own pharmacy, regardless of the medication distribution system used by the facility. The bill prohibits an adult care home from charging a fee, imposing a financial incentive or disincentive, or otherwise penalizing a resident for using a pharmacy other than the facility’s preferred pharmacy. The bill also bars facilities from charging residents for medication repackaging when that cost can be reported on the nursing facility financial and statistical report. It defines “pharmacy” by reference to existing Kansas law and makes the new provision part of the adult care home licensure act, meaning it would operate as an additional resident-rights requirement within the state’s long-term care regulatory framework.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2718 would amend Kansas adult care home law by adding a specific resident right tied to pharmacy choice and billing practices. It would affect adult care homes, nursing facilities, residents, and pharmacies that serve long-term care residents, limiting facilities’ ability to steer residents to preferred pharmacies through fees or financial penalties. The bill would also affect how facilities account for medication repackaging costs and could reduce revenue or administrative leverage associated with pharmacy arrangements.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is generally supportive of resident autonomy and consumer choice in long-term care, and it was requested by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, which typically advocates for resident rights. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from legislators in the record supplied. Based on the bill’s purpose and sponsor context, the measure appears to be framed as a resident-protection bill rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the restriction on adult care homes’ ability to use preferred-pharmacy arrangements, fees, or financial incentives to manage medication distribution. Facilities and pharmacy vendors that rely on exclusive or preferred arrangements may view the bill as limiting operational flexibility or revenue, while resident advocates are likely to support the right to choose a pharmacy without penalty. Another possible issue is the repackaging-cost provision, which could raise questions about reimbursement, reporting, and who ultimately bears those costs.