UK KDMC Hosts Legislative Roundtable
By: Charles Romans
The Ashland Beacon
King’s Daughter’s Medical Center hosted a roundtable gathering of state legislators who have been involved in legislation that affects the medical field. The roundtable was held on Friday, July 26 at UK KDMC and included State Sen. Robin Webb, State Rep. Patrick Flannery, and State Rep. John Blanton. SOAR’s Executive Director Colby Hall served as the events’ moderator and welcomed the speakers and guests.
Sen. Webb represents District 18, which includes Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis Counties in Kentucky. Rep. Flannery represents District 96, which includes Carter, Lewis, and some precincts in Boyd County, including the Cannonsburg area. Rep. Blanton represents District 92, which includes McGoffin, Knott, and a large part of Pike County.
The senator and the representatives shared insight with those present on the legislation each had seen passed as well as the direct and future impact those pieces of legislation would have on the medical community, both providers and those receiving care, now and in the future. Legislation discussed included House Bill 159, a bill that exempts health care providers providing services from criminal liability. Rep. Flannery discussed the intent and impact of House Bill 159.
“There have been two really big cases where nurses were criminally charged for errors they made.” Flannery told the roundtable. Flannery, a lawyer and son of a nurse, said that the blurring of lines between civil and criminal context didn’t sit well with him. House Bill 159 helps clarify those lines, he explained, by stating that you can still sue in court for mistakes made providing those mistakes are not found to be wanton, malicious, or grossly negligent. But such lawsuits under those conditions do not result in criminal prosecution. Flannery said that to the best of his knowledge Kentucky is the first state to adopt such legislation.
Sen. Webb discussed Senate Bill 188, which pertains to patient access to pharmacy benefits. That bill focuses on rural areas and rural providers being reimbursed for services that might otherwise have not been covered were it not for the bill. “That bill is something we think is going to help rural health care. We want to keep our rural pharmacies in business, and we want to keep access to them in our rural areas because access to health care in those areas is crucial and a high priority.” explained Webb.
Webb also encouraged maintaining communication at a “grassroots level” with legislators and with the public. No one should ever hesitate to contact them with any problems they believe needs to be addressed. “We work for you,” Webb said. “Don’t hesitate to bring any problems to our attention.”
Rep. Blanton discussed House Bill 274, which allows pharmacists to administer vaccines to children five years of age or older under prescriber protocols and with the consent of a parent or guardian. Previously the age of nine was the determinant age, but Blanton explained that the new bill allowed for dispersing some of the workload in a field in which there is a current shortage. It also allows for a larger percentage of the population to receive vaccines without first scheduling a doctor’s appointment and making a trip to the hospital. This, combined with the connection and personal relationship pharmacists have with their customers, will encourage more of the population to receive necessary vaccinations.
Members of the legislative panel also took questions from the audience and offered other insights into the legislative process. The senator and both representatives encouraged a healthy dialogue between the public and their legislators and stressed the importance of taking an active role.
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