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Minutes for SB404 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Permitting the use of expedited partner therapy to treat a sexually transmitted disease.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 8, 2024
Chairperson Gossage opened the hearing on SB404.
Jenna Moyer, Staff Revisor gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1) She took questions from committee members.
Dr. Patrick Allen testified as a proponent for SB404. He stated that by passing SB404, Kansas will be the 47th state 'to support physicians as we employ our best clinical judgment to treat and protect our patients, particularly the most vulnerable". (Attachment 2)
Anthony Jeter gave testimony in support of SB404. He said that Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) would increase access to care for patients in need of treatment by reducing time and costs burdens of making individual appointments to get tested and receive antibiotic prescriptions, allowing cheaper, more timely access to these medications and thus reducing spread of these infections in the population. (Attachment 3)
Kimberly Kern spoke in support of SB404.by saying that the more patients that can receive treatment, the greater the overall benefit will be for the community as a whole. (Attachment 4)
Karen (Kelly) Fritz testified as a proponent for SB404. Her goal is to increase opportunity for testing, treatment and health in the women of her community. EPT is something that can help reduce reinfection in her clients. (Attachment 5)
Elizabeth Groenweghe gave testimony in support of SB404. She stated that as sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates in Kansas continue to rise, evidence-based policies must be implemented to help control this spread. EPT is shown to be a tool in the toolkit for reducing STIs across communities in Kansas. (Attachment 6)
Dr. Dereck Totten spoke in support of SB404 by saying that EPT has been shown to be a safe and cost-effective approach to preventing STI-related infertility and other severe long-term complications. (Attachment 7)
Jill Burgen testified in support of SB404. She said that EPT only makes sense to help reduce the burden of STIs on our communities, healthcare systems and State. (Attachment 8)
Dr. Dan Bristow gave proponent testimony for SB404. He stated that EPT works and recent studies suggest a 30% reduction in reinfection rates compared to when partners were told to "get tested and treated". (Attachment 9)
Dr. Jessica Kieffer spoke as a proponent for SB404. She stated that by ensuring appropriate treatment is readily available to both patients and their partners, we can work together to reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates in Kansas. (Attachment 10)
They took questions from committee members.
Proponent, written only was submitted by:
Dr. Jennifer Schrimsher, MPH, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health (Attachment 11)
Dr. Kimberly Swan, Kansas Section Chair, ACOG (Attachment 12)
Erin Attebery, Master of Public Health Student, University of Kansas (Attachment 13)
Randy Bowman, Executive Director, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments (Attachment 14)
Heather Braum, Health Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 15)
Leslie Campbell, RN Director and Health Office, Pottawatomie County Health Department (Attachment16)
Rachelle Colombo, Executive Director, Kansas Medical Society (Attachment 17)
Christy Evers, DNP, APRN-NM, CNM, President, Kansas Affiliate, American College of Nurse-Midwives (Attachment 18)
Teresa Fisher, Director, Shawnee County Health Department (Attachment 19)
Jamie Harrington, DNP, APRN, CNM, FNP-BC, Augusta Family Practice (Attachment 20)
Jared Holroyd, MBA, Excutive Director, Kansas Pharmacists Association (Attachment 21)
Dena Hubbard, MD, FAAP, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Attachment 22)
Charlie Hunt, Director, Johnson County Department of Health & Environment (Attachment 23)
Sofia Khan, MD, PHLC Member (Attachment 24)
Kelly Driesler, MD, MPH, Health Partnership Clinic (Attachment 25)
Dr. Joseph LeMaster, Health Advisor to the Johnson County Department of Health & Environment (Attachment 26)
Dr. Jennifer Litwin, OBGYN Physician, Kansas City Women's Clinic (Attachment 27)
Taylor Morton, Kansas Lobbyist and Policy Analyst, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes (Attachment 28)
Shalei Shea, RN, SBS, Director, Health Officer, McPherson County Health Department (Attachment 29)
Donna E. Sweet, MD, AAHIVS (Attachment 30)
Chairperson Gossage closed the hearing on SB404.
Chairperson Gossage adjourned the meeting at 9:25 a.m. The next scheduled meeting is February 9, 2024 at 8:30 a.m.
