2023 Session: Health Services
Rep. Marianne Proctor, District 60
Measures passed to help improve health services and outcomes throughout the Commonwealth.
Establishing the Certificate of Need (CON) Task Force – The Kentucky certificate of need process is meant to prevent the proliferation of health care facilities, health services and major medical equipment that increase the cost of quality health care in the commonwealth. This task force will review the state’s CON program, including the state health plan and any related Kentucky statutes. It will also review the need for maintaining or changing CON for each health service currently covered and findings will be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission.
Enhancing healthcare workforce safety – HB 176 requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to develop guidelines for health facilities conducting workplace safety assessments and creating a workplace safety plan, requires CHFS to audit health facilities for compliance, requires health facilities to provide trainings on the workplace safety assessment and plan. Lastly, House Bill 176 requires health facilities to develop internal reporting requirements for incidents of workplace violence
Addressing healthcare workforce shortages – HB 200 establishes the framework for an innovative public/private partnership to develop talent and provide training. Funding for this program, to be used for scholarships and financial support to healthcare training programs, will be considered in the next budget cycle.
Ensuring confidentiality and access to mental health services for physicians – SB 12 clarifies that a physician who participates in a wellness program is not required to disclose participation information as a condition of employment, credentialing, licensure, or other requirements. Physicians are still obligated to report impairment to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML).
Restructuring pharmacy chain-of-command – SB 37 clarifies that only the pharmacist in charge of an out-of-state pharmacy must be licensed in Kentucky. The measure also changes the membership of the Board of Pharmacy’s advisory board to better represent practice areas and provide appointments to stakeholder groups.
Enhancing organ donation metrics – SB 71 includes other related adults and hospital administrators in the hierarchy of those who can authorize an organ donation to research and science.
Improving nursing quality – SB 110 allows the Kentucky Board of Nursing to suspend or reprimand a licensed nurse who is listed on the adult caregiver misconduct registry or has a substantiated finding of the abuse or neglect of a child. It also changes the composition of the board, incorporates language needed for the KBN to have regulatory authority over Kentucky medication aides, and clarifies three licensure categories for long-term care facilities to provide clarity so that patients and their families understand the expectations of the care they will receive.
Providing public health departments flexibility in hiring, Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe – SB 111 eliminates the requirement that a health commissioner of consolidated local governments like Lexington be a physician, instead requiring a minimum of a master’s degree in public health or a related field and at least five years of manageable experience in a health department.