[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6376220,"mediaKeyId","2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee","parentId",2140492,"title","Parsons and KNI officials cite vacancies, specialized care needs and requests for certified medication aides and cooks","audioSeconds",1831,"startMs",5687000,"endMs",7518000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee&start=5687&end=7518","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee/thumbnail_5687000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6376220/Kansas/Parsons-and-KNI-officials-cite-vacancies-specialized-care-needs-and-requests-for-certified-medication-aides-and-cooks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376220-c44ade268d33e201f513406c54ee5230/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096689&Signature=YHAQrxCuKEtCZEQV7HZeVtQUeq~RKzMn6yMkY0bREBNqoKcSqjT-Bt6JzEeFn08fFhqIgQfUGHIQTmZTARicGPllwbq1K-liCWD8QDsgP3ytRi6aTTrSczzfXCeOXG9yGr-T3RwQe8tJCkLlWwFWIcDH9KqQAHaJZOJj8hilknzguqmR1v7mZQ2LdqloCty~3lAB1nNmOTN7Rui1E-LWVPK0Cg4yK9pRibfnRQ00fr5ggGFUDd-KQ0s4-E-xkksSxoqAA0QRNH030YHG5urfRnYb2xgN1ZtA-KMUhjgDdPEhEK0gajhJ5Bh3rq0JblIyQ2FxaOUZkxeukK2XWY0Sdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author"," Committee on Social Services Budget ","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","PARSONS / KNI, Kan. — Officials from Parsons State Hospital and the Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI) told the Committee on Social Services Budget that vacancies, increasingly complex patient needs and survey citations are driving budget requests that include certified medication aides and additional dietary/cook staff.

Parsons State Hospital

Mike Dixon, superintendent at Parsons State Hospital, said Parsons serves a largely dually diagnosed population (intellectual disability plus mental health conditions) and reported that many residents require heightened supervision: Dixon told the committee that about 88% of individuals had engaged in physical aggression, 72% in property destruction and 72% in self‑injury; roughly 60% require a private room for behavioral reasons and about 8% were on one‑to‑one supervision.

Parsons described programmatic changes including trauma‑informed care and new restraint‑reduction efforts (the Ukuʀu model). Dixon said vacancy rates had improved slightly (from 25.7% to about 24.5% in his presentation) but that recruiting and retention remain a priority. Parsons noted an active vocational program and an advocacy group led by residents.

Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI)

Dayton Lamondian summarized the KNI request and explained a citation by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for concerns about staffing structure and medication administration. The agency conducted a medication‑administration study and concluded it takes about 20 minutes per resident to administer medications; KNI requested 21 certified medication aide (CMA) positions and roughly $1.2 million in FY2025 to address the need. Lamondian reported the governor’s proposal would fund a smaller portion (approximately seven CMAs in the governor’s recommendation) while the Legislative Budget Committee did not recommend the full enhancement.

KNI also requested restored dietary/cook capacity: the dietary department closed in 1996 and the agency requested funding to create cook positions to meet complex dietary needs for an aging resident population; the governor recommended a partial amount that the agency revised down to about $898,000 in one proposal.

Public comment and family perspective

A parent‑guardian group leader identified in the transcript as “Miss Kelly” — who said she is president of the parent/guardian group and an affiliate representative for the National Council on Severe Autism — urged continued investment in KNI and warned of growing demand for care for people with severe and profound autism. She requested that legislators visit KNI and highlighted the continuous, 24/7 care needs of residents who cannot be safely supported in community placements.

Ending

Both hospitals emphasized workforce development (internships, scholarship pipelines and tuition support), recruitment and retention bonuses, and other operational investments. The committee will consider the requests as part of the Appropriations process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee on Social Services Budget 01/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Officials from Parsons State Hospital and the Kansas Neurological Institute told the committee that vacancies, complex clinical needs and a KDHE citation are driving requests for certified medication aides, dietary staff and other operational support.","taxTitle","Committee on Social Services Budget, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",18818,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6376225,"Osawatomie State Hospital seeks funding for nursing shortfall, psychologists and renovations",983,4643000,5626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee&start=4643&end=5626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee/thumbnail_4643000.jpg","/articles/6376225/Kansas/Osawatomie-State-Hospital-seeks-funding-for-nursing-shortfall-psychologists-and-renovations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376225-777d96e487d56595de36d83b0248bcd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096689&Signature=bOTNjaKM92jNRxw6FLXcjbaPVZhUeB7aYU4W~Ub4sOnTkVsyz0irLCqY2JQ5-mSTOiPhs8k2IdlBLMurArwvWdqQPTR~dMvs~E-HHZAT41MaDvQ3M-f0Ad5AIWnLvohUtyaN5BvFQdrQyEnQ5ledJPWt~pVlblhB-z0hU87-Ni~q8SXvDJD9Ubss~P3QjX83atJ0U3uBaITKpLsLD1UDz9hhgOPB7uVRpq2AMnXGREO3sfpa7m7uYoFGD1XQgXGBvNI0bsh8UO9GcFy4s53~ytCGMnfnbrelerLkg9qXn-ZpIGcJpHZc--hqF-7cfZwdsvdUpnopsEXoOuknNHV-Zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OSAWATOMIE, Kan. — During a Committee on Social Services Budget presentation, Osawatomie State Hospital officials described requests to cover nursing staff shortfalls, to hire two psychologists for inpatient evaluations and to continue renovations that restored certified beds at the campus.

Dayton Lamondian, senior fiscal analyst, summarized the Osawatomie FY2025 approved budget of about $57.4 million (including $45.5 million SGF) and the agency’s request of roughly $75.7 million for FY2026. He said Osawatomie requested $11 million to address agency nursing‑staff needs — roughly half of the hospital’s contractual nursing budget — and that the Legislative Budget Committee did not recommend the enhancement while the governor included it in the executive recommendation.

Why it matters: Osawatomie is the eastern‑third counterpart to Larned State Hospital. The facility was decertified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) years earlier and has been pursuing renovations and recertification of beds; certified acute beds on campus are now operating under the Adair Acute Care unit.

Psychologists and operations

Lamondian noted the hospital reported employing four psychologists and a department director who together serve about 159 patients on the Osawatomie campus. The agency requested funding for two additional psychologists (two FTEs and $250,000) to increase evaluation capacity because staff could not focus on court‑related evaluations due to other duties; the governor recommended funding this item while the LBC did not.

Other items discussed

- 24/7 shift differential: Osawatomie’s revised estimate includes an amount transferred from the department to continue the permanent shift differential approved by last year’s appropriations action.

- Staffing and renovations: Lamondian described other increases attributable to filling positions (registered nurses, MHDDTs) and to renewing capital projects such as building repairs, pharmaceuticals and replacement equipment.

Hospital testimony and community context

Ashley Byram, superintendent at Osawatomie, described operational improvements after renovations (now more private rooms on the acute unit), the effect of recruitment and retention bonuses (vacancy rate fell from 39% to 31.8% after bonuses were implemented) and reduced weekly agency nursing costs after bonuses were offered. Byram said average weekly agency nursing expenditures dropped from about $355,000 to about $277,000 in the latest month cited.

Ending

Hospital officials urged continued investments in staffing and clinician capacity to reduce wait lists, maintain CMS certification progress and ensure safe care. The committee will consider those requests in the Appropriations process.","Osawatomie State Hospital officials told the Committee on Social Services Budget they requested $11 million for agency nursing staff and sought two psychologist positions to reduce competency wait lists; the hospital continues renovations and gradual recertification of CMS‑certified beds.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6376231,"Larned State Hospital officials tell committee contract nursing, vacancies drive $32.7 million shortfall",2577,398000,2975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee&start=398&end=2975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee/thumbnail_398000.jpg","/articles/6376231/Kansas/Larned-State-Hospital-officials-tell-committee-contract-nursing-vacancies-drive-327-million-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376231-52832af9a826a63b15af940152937968/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096689&Signature=O2PPfOFslxLpIQnc57lDZljtGZeDdRp0Yff9llNf0dHNCmBrt~VOZF~kl5o4BbDXoYcbdh-jIK-0pGX8kYHcVEinH34OFFRMciZWY21kqobWLcdqzYroLLmlE8O3P7hKpevgMVOjQaV3Z2kTBcCJYSLCUg5VG5wQ-PFoIAp4nlOAuf3n2Pj-IYbW3fjSnsOtV7dGx04BeT0SDw3csnDDQC6SSqUdu830Fqprgyb8UoKFtLFO2Ilz1Qalp29ycGMxKcAEddlcrsbn1rMAHjfQh4Ds6fkN-fvRbpLL6ww5H1s1UcMlX2r3dS-1mHHx1kOMKdYuFFG62LhsXF4qbF0R7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LARNED, Kan. — At a Committee on Social Services Budget hearing, fiscal analysts and Larned State Hospital leaders told members that nursing vacancies and expanded use of contract staff are the primary drivers of a multi‑million‑dollar budget shortfall for the hospital that serves the western two-thirds of Kansas.

Dayton Lamondian, senior fiscal analyst with the Legislative Division of Post Audit/Research, told members the hospital’s agency request for fiscal 2025 included an increase of $32.7 million to cover a projected shortfall for agency nursing staff. Lamondian said the hospital’s approved 2025 amount was about $82.2 million and the agency requested $128.6 million — an overall increase the analyst described as concentrated in salaries and contractual services and funded mainly from the state general fund.

Why it matters: Larned is one of two state psychiatric hospitals and treats civilly committed patients, individuals referred by district courts for the state security program and persons committed as sexually violent predators. The hospital’s staffing and contract‑labor expenses affect its ability to serve those populations and influence the state budget request that the Appropriations Committee will review.

What hospital leaders said

Lindsay Dinkel, superintendent at Larned State Hospital, said the psychiatric services program (PSP), the state security program (SSP) and the sexually violent predator treatment program (SVPTP) face distinct staffing and capacity issues. Dinkel provided the hospital’s bed totals: 520 budgeted beds overall — 90 for PSP, 140 for SSP and 274 for the SVPTP, plus 16 reintegration beds for the SVPTP — and said the PSP currently operates at a lower census (about 74) because of staffing constraints.

Dinkel told the committee that nursing vacancy rates are high: RNs had reported vacancies in the 60–66% range and other licensed nursing staff were higher — figures she said the hospital is managing by supplementing with contract staff. Dayton Lamondian confirmed the budget shows the hospital carried about $11.6 million in base budget contractual staff previously but projects total contractual expenditures much higher; the agency’s estimate for contract nursing exceeded $40 million in recent years.

Recruitment and retention steps

Dinkel described steps Larned took to improve staffing: sign‑on, referral and retention bonuses; pickup‑shift pay ($50 for half‑shifts, $100 for full extra shifts) and a one‑time retention bonus for employees employed six months without formal discipline (a $1,000 payout in the prior December). She said these measures brought an improvement in overall vacancy rates at the hospital (from roughly 45% in June to about 35% by December in her presentation), and that more bonuses will phase in over time as employees meet retention requirements.

The hospital also reported expanded use of a mobile competency program to provide outpatient evaluations and restoration: Dinkel said mobile competency evaluations rose from 13 in 2023 to 54 the next year, which she said helped reduce the SSP wait list.

Other budget items discussed

- Fire services: Larned requested $275,000 (one‑time) and a $75,000 ongoing amount to fund a memorandum of agreement in which the city of Larned provides fire response and training for the hospital and nearby KDOC campus. Lamondian said the Legislative Budget Committee deleted that enhancement but the governor recommended funding it.

- Competency unit: The agency requested funding to reopen an additional competency unit (roughly $2.4 million and 1 FTE) for the state security program; the Legislative Budget Committee and the governor deleted that request.

- 24/7 shift differential (the “247 pay plan”): The revised estimate includes $6.8 million in state general fund to continue shift differentials that were made permanent in last year’s appropriations act; Lamondian said this amount was transferred from KDADS/KDABS and will now be part of the hospital’s base budget.

Committee questions and context

Members asked for detail about whether the $32.7 million referred only to nurses; Lamondian said the category is specific to agency nursing staff, separate from other contractual services. Representatives pressed whether partial funding or phased funding could help; hospital leaders warned that the level of contract staff is essential to safely operate the hospital and that insufficient funding would force reductions to operations.

Officials noted the upcoming new state psychiatric hospital in Wichita (expected to admit patients in 2027) and emphasized that staffing, retention and community behavioral health investments across the state affect hospital census and flow.

Ending

Hospital leaders and behavioral‑health partners who testified urged continued funding for retention steps and for the hospital’s contractual needs to avoid unsafe staffing levels and service reductions. The committee will consider the budget recommendations as they are presented to the House Committee on Appropriations.","At a Committee on Social Services Budget hearing, Larned State Hospital officials said high nursing vacancy rates and reliance on contract staff produced a roughly $32.7 million shortfall for agency nursing staff; superintendents described retention bonuses, mobile competency services and a new fire-services contract with the city of Larned.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6376235,"Committee recommends Office of Veterans Services, Board of Nursing and Health Care Stabilization Fund to Appropriations",0,2104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee&start=2104&end=2104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140492-d9f0fb9bda2737e551ce66bddf1dbaee/thumbnail_2104000.jpg","/articles/6376235/Kansas/Committee-recommends-Office-of-Veterans-Services-Board-of-Nursing-and-Health-Care-Stabilization-Fund-to-Appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376235-c51156d42bd51d0e5651d29c5ce2f6d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771096689&Signature=Hb9BFs-0bkOCdQVztdXb9u80q3ip-Ii2OtqZWGXBrBWVPtqTMawPi7YgzxRLrjR8dDavvUVz06fKqy-kxOyMzqcBbgzVk1ZEvxgWE6YJXmLeilLaljXhiS81gWO-1-xEjXrxL-PDg074kggnRG98mO-j2V7pInPACJ90a1l17Jfs2zkYEmGGa4rFTX9Ps~XiIg4QeUYJj7sI2-YbXZAMlU1f5e8DlRoIk1NcAStE~1FAvbWFrptVE~EjNd8jo-1NmGPtGqeKrlfEcRFDemh9SpFlukPk2wxZJ9tIUc0v-wmlnCYQmth7D2qga3ckhTM6bJdHWNC6Yj0guEuDghBkTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Social Services Budget on an undisclosed meeting date voted by voice to recommend appropriations for three agencies to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Representative Cory Ballard moved that the committee recommend adoption of the Office of Veterans Services appropriation “as presented to us yesterday.” Representative Rees seconded the motion; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Representative Orpiza moved that the committee recommend adoption of the Kansas State Board of Nursing appropriations for fiscal years 2025–2027 as provided in the packet; a second was recorded and the motion carried by voice vote.

Representative Ballard moved that the committee recommend adoption of the appropriations for the Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund for FY25–FY27; Representative Rees seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: These committee recommendations advance the budgets to the larger House Appropriations Committee for further consideration. The transcript records only voice votes (ayes recorded by the chair) rather than roll-call tallies, so the committee’s recorded outcome is the recommendation to forward each appropriation to Appropriations, not a final legislative appropriation.

Votes at a glance

- Office of Veterans Services — Motion to recommend adoption (mover: Representative Cory Ballard; second: Representative Rees). Outcome: recommendation approved by voice vote; tally not specified in transcript.

- Kansas State Board of Nursing (FY2025–2027) — Motion to recommend adoption (mover: Representative Orpiza; second: not specified by name in the transcript but recorded). Outcome: recommendation approved by voice vote; tally not specified.

- Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund (FY25–FY27) — Motion to recommend adoption (mover: Representative Cory Ballard; second: Representative Rees). Outcome: recommendation approved by voice vote; tally not specified.

What the record shows and does not show: The transcript records the motions, seconds and the committee chair calling for “ayes,” with members responding. It does not record a roll-call vote or numeric tally for any motion. The committee forwarded its recommendations to the House Appropriations Committee for further action.","The Committee on Social Services Budget voted to recommend adoption of appropriations for the Office of Veterans Services, the Kansas Board of Nursing and the Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund to the House Committee on Appropriations; votes were voice approvals with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parsons and KNI officials cite vacancies, specialized care needs and requests for certified medication aides and cooks

Osawatomie State Hospital seeks funding for nursing shortfall, psychologists and renovations

Larned State Hospital officials tell committee contract nursing, vacancies drive $32.7 million shortfall

Committee recommends Office of Veterans Services, Board of Nursing and Health Care Stabilization Fund to Appropriations