By Yolanda Sims, JD, MHA
Loss Prevention and Risk Management Advisor

Question

On March 26th, KAMMCO hosted our first spring education webinar of 2024, The Fund 101: A Complete Guide to the Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund. During the Q&A, an attendee posed the following question: “Can the holder of an exempt license serve as a coroner?” 

Answer

The Kansas Board of Healing Arts (Board) website provided the answer. Essentially, a holder of an exempt license can serve as a coroner if employed by a local health department as defined by K.S.A. 65-241. The exempt license holder may be required to submit evidence of completing continuing education, but they are not required to have basic coverage or self-insurance to act as a coroner.

This FAQ provides a complete answer with all pertaining statutes. It explains the definition of an exempt license and how a holder of an exempt license may serve as a coroner. This language is located under the headings for DO license designations and MD license designations.

Exempt: A license issued to a person who is not regularly engaged in the practice of the healing arts or podiatry in Kansas and who does not hold oneself out to the public as being professionally engaged in such practice. Each exempt license may be renewed annually. The holder of an exempt license is entitled to all the privileges of their branch of the healing arts and (1) may serve as a coroner or as a paid employee of a local health department as defined by K.S.A. 65-241; or (2) practice as a charitable health care provider for an indigent health care clinic as defined by K.S.A. 75-6102. Additionally, the holder of an exempt license may perform administrative functions. The holder of an exempt license may be required to submit evidence of satisfactory completion of a program of continuing education, but is not required to have basic coverage or self-insurance in effect.

The Kansas Board of Healing Arts website: http://www.ksbha.org/faq/faqlicensingdes.shtml

More Information

For more information on risk management or loss prevention and professional liability issues, contact Yolanda Sims at ysims@kammco.com or visit the risk management section of the KAMMCO website.