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Bill

HB 2736

Requiring hospitals to screen all patients for eligibility for such hospital's financial assistance program or charity care policy.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas hospitals must proactively screen all patients for eligibility in financial assistance and charity care programs rather than waiting for patient applications.

Final Action - Not passed; Yea 20, Nay 102, Absent 3
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Bill Summary · HB 2736

Legislative bill overview

HB 2736 mandates that all hospitals in Kansas must screen every patient for eligibility in the hospital's own financial assistance program or charity care policy. This creates a standardized, proactive requirement rather than allowing patients to self-identify or opt-in for assistance. The bill aims to ensure that patients who qualify for cost reduction programs are automatically identified and enrolled.

Why is this important

Hospital financial assistance programs and charity care policies exist to help uninsured and underinsured patients manage healthcare costs, but many eligible patients never access them due to lack of awareness or complex application processes. Mandatory screening could reduce medical debt burdens for vulnerable populations and improve hospital transparency around available assistance. This also affects hospital operations, potentially impacting administrative costs and charity care funding distribution.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Hospitals may argue that universal screening of every patient creates significant administrative costs and operational complexity without clear reimbursement mechanisms
  • Scope and standards: The bill doesn't specify screening criteria, timing, or what "eligibility" means, leaving hospitals to interpret requirements inconsistently across the state
  • Insurance impact: Hospitals and insurers may dispute whether patients with insurance coverage should be screened, and how this interacts with existing payment obligations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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