This Kansas statute defines key terms for Article 56, which governs privileged (confidential) communications in treatment facilities. It defines 'treatment facility' to include community mental health centers, community service providers, psychiatric hospitals, and state institutions for people with intellectual disability. Facility operators in these settings must understand that communications received by treatment personnel during diagnosis or treatment are protected, and that these definitions determine which entities fall under the confidentiality provisions of K.S.A. 65-5601 through 65-5605.
View official source2026 Kansas Statutes Measures Affecting This Section Enacted only HB 2249 — Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care and establishing the south central regional mental health hospital. (amending · As Amended) HB 2365 — Establishing the south central regional mental health hospital. (amending · As Introduced) Prev Article 56. - CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION Next 65-5601. Definitions. As used in K.S.A. 65-5601 through 65-5605, and amendments thereto: (a) "Patient" means a person who consults or is examined or interviewed by treatment personnel. (b) "Treatment personnel" means any employee of a treatment facility who receives a confidential communication from a patient while engaged in the diagnosis or treatment of a mental, alcoholic, drug dependency or emotional condition, if such communication was not intended to be disclosed to third persons. (c) "Ancillary personnel" means any employee of a treatment facility who is not included in the definition of treatment personnel. (d) "Treatment facility" means a community mental health center, community service provider, psychiatric hospital and state institution for people with intellectual disability. (e) "Head of the treatment facility" means the administrative director of a treatment facility or the designee of the administrative director. (f) "Community mental health center" means the same as defined in K.S.A. 39-2002, and amendments thereto. (g) "Psychiatric hospital" means Larned state hospital, Osawatomie state hospital, south central regional mental health hospital and hospitals licensed under K.S.A. 39-2001 et seq., and amendments thereto. (h) "State institution for people with intellectual disability" means Parsons state hospital and the Kansas neurological institute. (i) "Community service provider" means: (1) A community facility for people with intellectual disability organized pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 19-4001 through 19-4015, and amendments thereto, and licensed in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 39-2001 et seq., and amendments thereto; (2) community service provider as provided in the developmental disabilities reform act; or (3) a nonprofit corporation that provides services for people with intellectual disability pursuant to a contract with an intellectual disability governing board. History: L. 1986, ch. 212, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 234, § 18; L. 1996, ch. 167, § 60; L. 2012, ch. 91, § 53; L. 2018, ch. 71, § 25; L. 2025, ch. 90, § 16; July 1. Prev Article 56. - CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION Next Related Statutes © 2026 Revisor of Statutes, State of Kansas