The bill establishes an advance universal newborn screening program under the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which will oversee the program and provide educational resources on various genetic conditions. It amends existing laws to include new conditions for screening as identified by the secretary of health and environment, while removing specific references to congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia, and phenylketonuria. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of healthcare providers in administering tests and reporting cases, ensuring that families meet certain income thresholds for assistance. Additionally, it increases state financial assistance to local health departments and modifies the annual assessment on hospital providers, raising the maximum rate from 3% to 6% of net inpatient and outpatient operating revenue.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Kansas newborn screening fund to financially support the program, with provisions for transferring funds from the medical assistance fee fund. It amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 65-6209 and K.S.A. 65-6210, focusing on the assessment imposed on certain hospital providers and establishing exemptions for specific types of hospitals, including state agencies and critical access hospitals with revenues below a set threshold. The payment schedule for the assessment is modified, changing due dates to May 30 and November 30, and allowing for delayed payment schedules for hospitals facing financial difficulties. The bill also introduces penalties for late payments and repeals several existing statutes related to hospital assessments, streamlining the legal framework governing these payments. The act will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
H Sub for: 38-2001, 65-180, 65-181, 65-1626, 65-183, 65-242, 65-6208, 65-6209, 65-6210
Enrolled: 65-180, 65-6208, 65-6209, 65-181, 65-1626, 65-183, 65-242, 65-6210