by Melissa Hudelson
It has been a busy month for KAAP with a lot going on legislatively and with partner collaborations. Thank you to everyone who submitted testimony in opposition to HB 2601, a bill that seeks to changed the way that daycare and school immunization requirements are decided. It would take power away from the experts at KDHE and put it into the hands of legislators. We were strongly opposed to this bill, and every KAAP member who reached out to their representative and submitted testimony made a significant impact on the outcome of the hearing on Thursday, February 13th. From what we understand, the bill is not likely to move forward out of the House Education Committee. Please remember that you have a voice that is important for Kansas legislators to hear. Communicate with your legislators and let them know that you are a trusted source for information when they have questions on child health bills.
We are also actively working on collaborations with partners throughout the state to provide education and support to pediatricians and other primary care providers. KAAP wants to support your practice in any way that we can, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or ideas for projects that would be beneficial to your work.
Don’t forget to apply for the “Pediatricians in Action” grant from KAAP to work on a project in your community or practice that would improve child health. (Find the application here). The deadline is February 28th, and we will be awarding up to $5,000.
