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Minutes for SB32 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare

Short Title

Medical student loan agreements for psychiatry.

Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 19, 2017

Chairperson Schmidt opened the hearing on SB32.

Scott Abbott, Staff Revisor, reviewed SB32.

Proponents:

Kyle Kessler testified in support of the bill as it would assist our state in recruiting and retaining psychiatrists, of which there is a continual and ever growing shortage.   This bill would also be helpful in rural areas of the state for mental health services, including Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) and the State Mental Health Hospitals (SMHH) in Osawatomie and Larned. (Attachment 3)

Robbin Cole testified in support of the bill as it would be of significant benefit to Pawnee Mental Health Services in recruiting and retaining psychiatrists to their service area.(Attachment 4)

Dr. Brad Grinage testified in support of the bill by the society to include "general psychiatry and child psychiatry" for the first time as areas of medicine eligible to participate in the Kansas "Medical Student Loan Act".(Attachment 5)

Secretary Tim Keck, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, testified in support of the bill which would enhance treatment for persons with mental health issues and assist in adequately staffing our hospitals.  The bill would also increase the number of residents at Kansas University Medical Center. (Attachment 6)

Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by:

Ed Klumpp, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Sheriffs Association, and Kansas Peace Officers Association (Attachment 7)

Walt Hill, Executive Director of High Plains Mental Health Center (Attachment 8)

Ric Dalke, Executive Directory of Compass Behavioral Health (Attachment 9)

Dr. Eric Attwood, Medical Director at Family Service and Guidance Center (Attachment 10)

Amy R. Campbell, Kansas Mental Health Coalition (Attachment 11)

There being no further conferees, Chairperson Schmidt closed the hearing on SB32.

Chairperson Schmidt advised that the Bethell Committee Annual Report could be viewed through the following link to the website:

http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/CommitteeReports/2015CommitteeReports/hcbs-cr.pdf

Included is a copy of that report: (Attachment 12)

The Chairperson advised the Committee that Secretary Susan Moiser, Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment and State Health Officer, had been invited to speak on the KanCare renewal process.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.