SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2579
As Recommended by House Committee on
Health and Human Services

Brief*
HB 2579 would amend law concerning emergency
medical services (EMS) to add to the list of interventions that
emergency medical responders (EMRs) may provide. The bill
would add the distribution of non-prescription, over-the-
counter (OTC) medications, as approved by the EMS medical
director.
The EMS medical director would not be able to include
as approved OTC medications any compound, mixture, or
preparation that has a detectable quantity of ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine and is exempt from being reported to the
statewide electronic logging system for the sale of
methamphetamine precursors. The bill would also make
technical changes.

Background
The bill was introduced in the House Committee on
Health and Human Services at the request of Representative
S. Ruiz on behalf of Johnson County MED-ACT; Kansas City,
Kansas, Fire Department; Johnson County Emergency
Medical Services Physician; and the Mid-America Regional
Council Emergency Rescue.


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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
House Committee on Health and Human Services
In the House Committee hearing on January 31, 2024,
an EMS medical director and representatives of the Johnson
County Department of Emergency Services, Kansas EMS
Association, and Mid-America Regional Council Emergency
Rescue provided proponent testimony, stating generally that
the bill would provide clarification to EMRs regarding the
distribution of OTC medication and allow each EMS to
determine which OTC medications would be available.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Kansas Association of Local Health
Departments, Kansas Medical Society, Kansas Public Health
Association, and Kansas Region III EMS Council.
A representative of the Emergency Medical Services
Board (Board) provided opponent testimony, stating the
language is unnecessary, implementation would create
obstacles to providing care, and the Board could issue a
guidance document to address the issue.
Written-only neutral testimony was provided by a
representative of the State Board of Pharmacy.
On January 31, 2024, the House Committee adopted an
amendment to the bill to remove “when authorized by a
physician” regarding an advance practice registered nurse.
Upon reconsideration on February 1, 2024, the House
Committee removed the amendment and passed the bill as
introduced.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, the Board indicates the bill would not
have a fiscal effect on its operations. However, the agency
notes that reimbursement and procurement of OTC
medications could increase operating costs for local EMS
2- 2579
providers. Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not
reflected in The FY 2025 Governor’s Budget Report.
The League of Kansas Municipalities and the Kansas
Association of Counties indicate that enactment of the bill
would not have a fiscal effect on local government.
Emergency medical services; over-the-counter medications; emergency medical
responders


3- 2579


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 65-6144