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Minutes for HB2259 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Providing that certain mental health medications be available without prior authorization to treat medicaid recipients and abolishing the mental health medication advisory committee.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 14, 2023
Sarah Fertig, Medicaid Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, provided testimony in opposition of HB2259 (Attachment 16). The agency is opposed to the bill because it would block Medicaid, and only Medicaid, from imposing reasonable cost containment and safety requirements for mental health only medications. It would also eliminate parity that currently exists in Medicaid between mental health drugs and other classes of drugs. The 2015 legislation creating MHMAC was a result of compromise that would open the door to the Medicaid program imposing any type of restriction on mental health drugs. Ms. Fertig provided a list of impacts HB2259 would have on the Medicaid program. In conclusion, the bill would undo a major policy reform that allows the Medicaid program to promote safer and more cost effective mental health drug policy. The bill would also come at a significant cost to taxpayers.
The hearing on HB2259 was closed.
