Kansas

Kansas credentials two types of addiction counselors. A Licensed Addiction Counselor requires a bachelor’s degree, completed relevant education courses and have 400 hours of experience. A Clinical Addiction Counselor requires a master’s degree, completed relevant education courses and 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-6610 and Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

Licensed mental health counselors assist an individual or a group through counseling, assessment, consultation and referral and includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as authorized under the professional counselors licensure act. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-5802

As of August 2018, 14 NPs in Kansas have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or appropriate experience NPs can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1130(d) and Kan. Admin. Regs. §60-11-104(a)

As of August 2018, 5 PAs in Kansas have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. A Kansas PA may prescribe medications as determined and outlined by a supervising physician. Kansas PAs with proper training or appropriate experience can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-28a08

The certification for peer mentoring is administered by the Behavioral Health Services Commission with the Department for Aging and Disability Services. The standards include age, training and recovery requirements for peer mentoring qualifications.

Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.

Each advanced practice registered nurse in the role of nurse midwife shall function in an advanced role through the application of advanced skills and knowledge of women’s health care through the life span.

Any advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe durable medical equipment; prescribe, procure, and administer any drug consistent with the licensee’s specific role and population focus, except any drug that is intended to cause an abortion; and prescribe, procure, or administer any drug that is a controlled substance in accordance with the uniform controlled substances act as specified in Kan. Stat. Ann. 65-4101, and amendments thereto Kan. Admin. Regs. §60-11-104(a)

Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.

Each APRN in the role of NP shall function in an advanced role at a specialized level, through the application of advanced knowledge and skills and shall be authorized to provide health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention, independent nursing diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases.

 Any APRN may prescribe durable medical equipment; prescribe, procure, and administer any drug consistent with the licensee’s specific role and population focus, except any drug that is intended to cause an abortion; and prescribe, procure, or administer any drug that is a controlled substance in accordance with the uniform controlled substances act as specified in Kan. Stat. Ann. 65-4101, and amendments thereto Kan. Admin. Regs. §60-11-104(a)

Kansas has not codified language around POLST. Only physicians may sign transportable physician orders for patient preference (TPOPP) forms. Please see the Kansas Medical Society website for more information.

NPs are not recognized in state policy as primary care providers.

Optometrists may only perform procedures related to foreign body removal and the examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. Additional allowable procedures are authorized by statute. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1501

Optometrists may not administer medication through injection. Kan. Stat. Ann §65-1501

Optometrists may prescribe, administer or dispense topical pharmaceutical drugs and oral drugs for the examination, diagnosis and treatment of ocular conditions. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1501(3)

Under the Extended Care Permit I, II and III provisions a dental hygienist who meets certain experience requirements as outlined by statute and who enters into an agreement with a sponsoring dentist may provide services without the prior authorization of a dentist to populations with limited access to oral health care in specific settings (e.g., schools, Head Start programs, state correctional institutions, local health departments, indigent care clinics, adult care homes, etc.). Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1456

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Kansas does not explicitly allow for the practice of teledentistry.

Kansas has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act does allow pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Kansas does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

Kansas does not allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

Kansas does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

The practice of a physician assistant shall include medical services within the education, training and experience of the physician assistant that are delegated by the supervising physician. Physician assistants practice in a dependent role with a supervising physician, and may perform those duties and responsibilities through delegated authority or written agreement. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-28a08

A written agreement between the physician and the PA outlining the prescriptive authority is required. Physician determines the types of medication a PA may prescribe. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-28a08

A PA may perform medical services within the education, training and experience of the supervising physician and as delegated by the physician. Authority may be given through a written agreement. Services may be performed in any setting authorized by the supervising physician. Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-28a08