Introducing The Kansas Budget Puzzle

This new interactive feature allows you to make tax and spend decisions and build your own version of the state budget. The puzzle is part of a new fiscal policy webpage that is designed to help you track the budget process. KHI’s new focus on fiscal policy draws on the experience of KHI’s Duane Goossen, who served for more than a decade as state budget director, and Scott Brunner, who helped manage the state Medicaid agency before joining KHI. Go to the new fiscal policy page to work the budget puzzle.

Counties face loss of underage drinking prevention funds

"If they can vote and they can go to war, then they can sure enough drink." Elizabeth Stamper said she hears that a lot in her line of her work. She's the point person in Seward County for coordinating underage drinking prevention efforts. Continue Reading

Governor calls for large budget reserve as part of a packed agenda

In a speech one spectator described as brief but dense, Gov. Sam Brownback on Wednesday gave his constitutionally mandated State of the State message to the Legislature. The governor used fleeting phrases and 25 minutes to sketch a heavily weighted agenda that augurs a session potentially more complex than any since 1992, which was when lawmakers last rewrote the finance formula for public schools at the same time they redrew their own and federal legislative districts. Continue Reading

Health issues facing the 2012 Legislature

With the launch of the new legislative session this week, policymakers face a variety of health-related issues. KHI News Service has compiled and summarized the agendas of the administration and the state’s major health-related groups and agencies. Continue Reading

Legislators aim to revamp oversight committee

With lawmakers poised to return to the Statehouse next week for the launch of the 2012 session, key legislators from both parties say they want to revamp the Health Policy Oversight Committee so that is has a new focus on monitoring the state's Medicaid managed care contracts. Continue Reading

Kansas mental health centers face growing pressures

Police, social workers, legislators and others are expressing growing concerns about the state's mental health system, which is experiencing tighter budgets even as demand for services grow. Continue Reading

Policy & Research

Testimony - Kansas Partnership for Improving Community Health

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Public Health Systems and Services

In testimony to a joint meeting of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI discusses the Kansas Partnership for Improving Community Health and the new KansasHealthMatters.org website.

Health Reform Brief 5: Medicare Changes Include Care Coordination and Prescription Drug Costs

0 | Jan. 24, 2012 | Health Reform

This brief — the fifth in a series focusing on how health reform affects Kansans — examines the changes that will occur in Medicare under the health reform law.

Snapshot of Insurance Coverage in Kansas

0 | Jan. 23, 2012 | Health Insurance

This fact sheet outlines major findings from recent U.S. Census Bureau data about the insurance status of Kansans.

Testimony - Vaccine Requirement Exemptions (2012 HB 2094)

0 | Jan. 18, 2012 | Immunizations, KHI Legislative Testimony

In testimony to the House Human Health and Services Committee, KHI discusses vaccine requirement exemptions.

Testimony - Medicaid Managed Care

0 | Jan. 11, 2012 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Medicaid-CHIP, Medicaid-CHIP

In testimony to the House Social Services Budget Committee, KHI discusses a proposal for Medicaid managed care.

Testimony - State and Federal Budget Issues

0 | Dec. 20, 2011 | KHI Legislative Testimony

In testimony to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, KHI discusses state and federal budget issues.

News

Committee to hear mental health diversion bill

0 | Jan. 27, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

The House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice is scheduled to take up a bill designed to encourage prosecutors to enter diversion agreements with mentally ill offenders.

Ag secretary criticizes bioscience board

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | Legislature

Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman, the administration's point man during the audit of the Kansas Bioscience Authority, criticized the authority's board of directors in remarks to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Commerce committees. KBA directors weren't given an opportunity to respond during the hearing, but KBA Chairman Dan Watkins later told reporters that the criticisms were off-base and that the administration was pushing for control of the agency.

Auditors report potential cost savings for Kan-ed

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | Legislature

Legislators have several options for transforming Kan-ed and saving the state money, according to an audit report. The state could save $2 million annually by switching half of the institutions that use the Kan-ed network over to commercial internet providers.

Committee endorses confict-of-interest bill

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | KDoA, SRS, Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

The House Committee of Aging and Long-term Care today endorsed a bill aimed at reducing potential for fraud and abuse in Medicaid-funded services for the disabled.

Administration submits Medicaid waiver request

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | Medicaid-CHIP

A Medicaid waiver request that is part of Gov. Sam Brownback's KanCare plan has been completed and will be sent today to federal officials, according to the Governor's Office.

Nursing homes encouraged to adapt, diversify

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | Congress, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

Former Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson, now head of a national nursing home association, told industry leaders they must adapt to a dynamic marketplace that faces major changes in the next three to five years.

Kansas Health Matters website demonstrated to lawmakers

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery

The Senate and House health committees saw the new Kansas Health Matters website demonstrated during a joint session.

Garden City dealing with measles outbreak

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Community Health, KDHE, Immunizations

Since Jan. 3, at least six cases of measles have been confirmed in Finney County.

Attorney says bilking Medicaid is easy

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

The head of the Medicaid fraud unit at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office told lawmakers it was easy to cheat programs that provide in-home services for the disabled and the frail elderly.

KU Cancer Center director defends Kansas Bioscience Authority

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | KU Medical Center, Legislature

The director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center today urged legislators to "not throw the baby out with the bath water" as they consider the results of an extensive audit of operations at the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

Moreno resigns deputy secretary post at SRS

0 | Jan. 24, 2012 | SRS

Pedro Moreno, who came to Kansas from Florida 11 months ago with former SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki, has resigned his leadership post at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Verification system off to a rocky start

0 | Jan. 23, 2012 | Agencies, Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Sen. Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka, today blasted the administration’s efforts to install a cell phone-based system that is supposed to verify when attendant care workers provide in-home services to the disabled and the frail elderly.

Issue Brief: The Growing Health and Financial Costs of Inadequate Health Insurance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Health Insurance, Underinsurance

This introduction to the issue of underinsurance discusses the difficulty in determining what constitutes underinsurance and alerts policymakers to issues they should consider when addressing this issue.

Committee endorses confict-of-interest bill

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | KDoA, SRS, Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

The House Committee of Aging and Long-term Care today endorsed a bill aimed at reducing potential for fraud and abuse in Medicaid-funded services for the disabled.

Administration submits Medicaid waiver request

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | Medicaid-CHIP

A Medicaid waiver request that is part of Gov. Sam Brownback's KanCare plan has been completed and will be sent today to federal officials, according to the Governor's Office.

KU Cancer Center director defends Kansas Bioscience Authority

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | KU Medical Center, Legislature

Attorney says bilking Medicaid is easy

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Medicaid-CHIP

The head of the Medicaid fraud unit at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office told lawmakers it was easy to cheat programs that provide in-home services for the disabled and the frail elderly.

Ag secretary criticizes bioscience board

0 | Jan. 26, 2012 | Legislature

Counties face loss of underage drinking prevention funds

0 | Jan. 23, 2012 | Community Health, Prevention

Garden City dealing with measles outbreak

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | Community Health, KDHE, Immunizations

Since Jan. 3, at least six cases of measles have been confirmed in Finney County.

Video: Community Water Fluoridation

2 | Jun. 22, 2011 | About KHI

In this video, KHI senior analyst Tatiana Lin discusses community water fluoridation from a public health perspective.

Governor hints at money targeted for waiting-list problem

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Government, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday hinted that his administration might use a portion of the revenues gained from his proposed elimination of the state’s earned income tax credit to help reduce long-standing waiting lists for services for the disabled.

Bill would take developmentally disabled services out of Medicaid makeover plan

1 | Jan. 20, 2012 | Legislature

A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would remove long-term care services for the developmentally disabled from the governor's plan to expand Medicaid managed care.

Cuts in mental health funding affect veterans

1 | Jan. 17, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

Recent cuts in community mental health center budgets are harming veterans and their families, according to a center director.

Brownback tax plan would harm poor families, advocates say

1 | Jan. 12, 2012 | Budget, Legislature

Advocates for poor and low-income families say Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to eliminate the state’s earned income tax credit would hurt those that administration officials say it’s meant to help.

Senators seek constitutional amendment for 'rainy day' fund

1 | Jan. 05, 2012 | Budget, Legislature

A majority of the Kansas Senate, including Republicans and Democrats, have agreed to seek an amendment to the state constitution requiring that 0.25 percent of annual state revenues go into a budget stabilization fund.

Legislators aim to revamp oversight committee

1 | Jan. 03, 2012 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Johnson County and Lawrence suspend use of Kansas River water due to algae concern

2 | Sep. 14, 2011 | Community Health, Environment, KDHE

Officials in Johnson County and Lawrence have temporarily stopped drawing municipal drinking water from the Kansas River because of a new problem with a potentially toxic, blue-green algae.

Senior services at risk

1 | May. 11, 2009 | Letters

Jim Beckwith, executive director of the Northeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, describes the impact of further state cuts in social service spending on the people his agency serves.

Healthy Communities Wyandotte: Recommendations for a Better Future

1 | Oct. 25, 2011 | Community Health

Healthy Communities Wyandotte is a countywide initiative to involve local leaders and residents in improving the health of people in the community.

Budget Blog

The governor’s long-term budget projection

Jan. 25, 2012

The recently released budget proposal from Gov. Sam Brownback includes something new: a long-term projection for the State General Fund. The projection, which goes all the way out to fiscal year 2018, has drawn the interest of legislative committees and has been part of the briefing packet put out by the Division of Budget.

Introducing The Kansas Budget Puzzle

Counties face loss of underage drinking prevention funds

Governor calls for large budget reserve as part of a packed agenda

Health issues facing the 2012 Legislature

Legislators aim to revamp oversight committee

Kansas mental health centers face growing pressures

Introducing: KHI's new Budget Puzzle and budget page