AI-assisted research summary: This section gives residents rights to buy or refuse health insurance and to make private contracts for lawful health care services, and it limits government interference and certain penalties.
65-6231. Health care freedom act. (a) A resident of this state has the right to purchase health insurance or refuse to purchase health insurance. The government shall not interfere with a resident's right to purchase health insurance or with a resident's right to refuse to purchase health insurance. (b) A resident of this state has the right to enter into a private contract with health care providers for lawful health care services. The government shall not interfere with a resident's right to purchase lawful health care services. (c) A person or employer may pay directly for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines for paying directly for lawful health care services. A health care provider may accept direct payment for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services. (d) No state agency, board, commission or any other governmental entity shall require an agreement to participate in medicare, medicaid or any other insurance plan, health care system or health information technology or benefit exchange as a condition for original application or renewal of license, registration or certification for a health care provider. (e) No state agency, board, commission or any other governmental entity shall prohibit participation in a health information organization for any health information technology or benefit exchange purposes by a health care provider based on whether such health care provider participates in medicare, medicaid or any other insurance plans or health care systems. (f) The government shall not enact a law that would restrict these rights or that would impose a form of punishment for exercising these rights. No provision of this section shall render a resident of this state liable for any punishment, penalty, assessment, fee or fine as a result of such resident's failure to procure or obtain health insurance coverage or participate in any health care system or plan. (g) As used in this section: (1) "Direct payment or pay directly" means payment for lawful health care services without a public or private third party, not including an employer, paying for any portion of the service. (2) "Health care provider" shall have the meaning provided in K.S.A. 40-3401, and amendments thereto. (3) "Health care system" means any public or private entity whose function or purpose is the management of, processing of, enrollment of individuals for or payment for, in full or in part, health care services or health care data or health care information for its participants. (4) "Lawful health care services" means any health-related service or treatment to the extent that the service or treatment is permitted or not prohibited by law or regulation that may be provided by persons or businesses otherwise permitted to offer such services. (5) "Penalties or fines" means any civil or criminal penalty or fine, tax, salary or wage withholding or surcharge or any named fee with a similar effect established by law or rule by a government established, created or controlled agency that is used to punish or discourage the exercise of rights protected under this section. (h) This section shall be known and may be cited as the health care freedom act. (i) This section shall take effect on and after July 1, 2011. History: L. 2011, ch. 114, § 7; June 9.