Bill
HB 2314
Creates a Kansas certification for peer support specialists, enables telehealth delivery, and seeks CMS approval to make telehealth peer services reimbursable under Medicaid.
Purpose
- Establish a new, state-recognized certification category for peer support specialists in Kansas; expand training and certification opportunities through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
- Enable certified peer support specialists to deliver telehealth services and direct the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to pursue a Medicaid billing code (CMS approval and state plan amendment) so telehealth peer services can be reimbursable.
Key provisions and requirements
- KDADS responsibilities
- Subject to appropriations, KDADS shall provide/contract for training and expand certification opportunities.
- KDADS must adopt rules and regulations to implement the statute.
- Two-tier certification system
- Level 1: up to 30 billable hours per week.
- Level 2: up to 40 billable hours per week.
- Training limits for Level 2
- No more than eight Level 2 training sessions per year (unless KDADS, with contractor, decides otherwise).
- In‑person Level 2 sessions capped at 50 participants; virtual sessions may be unlimited.
- Service caps and exceptions
- Default limit: 300 hours of peer support services per year per recipient.
- Managed care organizations may grant prior authorization for greater hours.
- Supervision
- Peer support supervision may be provided by non‑licensed professionals.
- Background checks and certification eligibility
- KDADS must have the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) run a name‑based criminal history/background check for certification applicants (amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 22‑4715 to include peer support checks).
- KDADS/contractors may check KDADS and Kansas Department for Children and Families registers for abuse/neglect/exploitation reports.
- Information may be used to determine certification eligibility. KDADS/contracting agencies are shielded from civil damages for good‑faith certification denials based on these checks.
- Telehealth and Medicaid
- Certified peer support specialists may provide telehealth peer services.
- KDHE must seek CMS approvals necessary to make telehealth peer support an allowable Medicaid reimbursable service and amend the Medicaid state plan upon approval.
Who is affected
- Individuals seeking certification as peer support specialists (training, background checks, potential disqualification).
- Persons receiving peer support services (service-hour caps unless authorized).
- KDADS (new program responsibilities, rulemaking, contracting); KDHE (CMS/state plan work); KBI (conducting checks).
- Managed care organizations (prior authorization decisions).
- Third‑party training/certification contractors.
Fiscal impact (Division of the Budget fiscal note, Feb. 16, 2025)
- FY 2026: Estimated increase in State General Fund expenditures of about $1.1 million (one‑time and ongoing).
- FY 2027 and thereafter: Estimated increase of $672,385 annually from the State General Fund.
- Specific cost drivers cited by KDADS:
- One‑time database to store certification records: ~$500,000; ongoing maintenance ~$100,000/year.
- Additional staffing: 6.00 FTEs (2 criminal record check specialists, 1 certification administrator, 1 education administrator/coordinator, 1 legal aid, 1 attorney) — personnel costs ~$562,500 in FY 2026 and ~$571,287 in FY 2027 (includes 2.5% COLA).
- KBI name‑based check fee currently $7 per person per run (KDADS estimated ~155 checks ≈ $1,085/year).
- KDHE: Fiscal effect indeterminate until CMS guidance/approval is obtained.
- KBI: No fiscal effect reported.
Procedural status / timeline (Kansas)
- Introduced: January 31, 2025; referred to House Committee on Social Services Budget.
- Scheduled committee hearings February 12 and 13, 2025 were canceled.
- Fiscal note issued February 16, 2025.
- Provisions are subject to appropriations and CMS approval for Medicaid reimbursement before telehealth services become claimable under Medicaid.
Considerations / likely impacts
- If KDHE secures CMS approval and the state plan is amended, Medicaid reimbursement could expand access to peer support via telehealth, potentially increasing utilization (subject to statutory caps and MCO prior authorization).
- Background‑check and certification infrastructure will create upfront and recurring state costs and may result in denial of certification for applicants with disqualifying records.
- KDADS rulemaking and contracting approach will shape how training capacity, certification standards, and supervision models operate in practice.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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