Kansas Health Institute |

Slow going in efforts to solve state’s dentist shortage Five years ago, 1,402 dentists were practicing in Kansas. There are more today, but only 25. Continue Reading

Farm groups fighting new paperwork requirement in health reform law The Kansas Farm Bureau and its national counterpart are among the business groups fighting a new tax reporting requirement that was included in federal health reform. But Farm Bureau spokesmen said their quarrel isn't with health reform per se. Continue Reading

KDHE chief explains computer problems; urges patience KDHE Secretary Roderick Bremby called a press conference to explain the cause of a major computer crash at the agency and to describe the ongoing work to restore data and whittle away some new backlogs of information collected since the systems went down Aug. 5. Continue Reading

Access programs match donated medical care with needy patients An idea for matching donated medical services with poor workers in need caught hold with local medical societies and is now flourishing in Wichita, Topeka and in Kansas City. Continue Reading

Great disparities continue Native Americans continue to suffer higher incidence of disease than others. Heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes are now the leading deadly illnesses among American Indians. A new center at KU aims to deal with the health disparities and encourage more Native Americans to enter the health care professions. Continue Reading

Policy & Research

Scarce Resource Allocation Planning Documents for the State of Kansas

0 | Aug. 10, 2010 | Health Care Delivery

These two reports outline recommendations for developing protocols that health care and public health officials at the state, regional, and local levels could use during a public health emergency to maximize the number of lives saved. The reports were produced upon request from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Annual Insurance Update 2010

0 | Jul. 20, 2010 | Health Insurance

This annual report contains information about the sources of health insurance for Kansans and details the socio-demographic characteristics of the uninsured.

Federal Health Reform’s Impact in Kansas

0 | Jun. 03, 2010 | Health Reform

KHI recently convened a group policymakers and stakeholders to discuss a report about the impact of federal health reform in Kansas. Completed by a consulting firm for the Kansas Health Policy Authority, the report said the cost of one of reform’s most significant changes – the expansion of Medicaid – would be borne mostly by the federal government.

Medical Debt: Consequences and Policy Options

0 | May. 28, 2010 | Health Insurance, Underinsurance

This brief looks at current and proposed legislation at the state and national levels that addresses the issue of medical debt.

Technical Report: The Underinsured in Kansas

0 | May. 28, 2010 | Underinsurance, Health Insurance

This report details the specifics of KHI’s "The Underinsured in Kansas" project, presenting findings from both a survey and personal interviews that describe what it means to be underinsured in Kansas.

Report: Voices of the Underinsured

0 | Apr. 30, 2010 | Health Insurance, Underinsurance

KHI staff traveled the state to interview underinsured Kansans about how coverage limitations have affected them in their daily lives. Their stories are presented here, along with information relating each story to a broader policy context.

News

New HIT course taking shape at JOCO college

0 | Sep. 01, 2010 | Workforce, Health Reform, HIE-HIT

Due to new federal policies encouraging the adoption of health information technology, a new class of medical workers is expected to be in high demand. Johnson County Community College is looking for 20 students for a new course designed to train health information technologists. The school is part of a training consortium that aims to produce 5,400 graduates by 2012.

Food security task force made permanent

0 | Sep. 01, 2010 | Community Health, Nutrition

Gov. Mark Parkinson on Wednesday made permanent a task force that studies why growing numbers of Kansans struggle to put food on the table and ways the problem of “food insecurity,” might be solved.

KU drug development director hired

0 | Sep. 01, 2010 | KU Medical Center

KU has named a director for its Biotechnology and Optimization Center, which focuses on commercializing the products of drug research.

Judge lifts restraining order in Wichita smoking ban case

0 | Aug. 31, 2010 | Tobacco

The statewide smoking ban is now being enforced in Wichita.

SRS gauging health reform's effect on autism waiver

0 | Aug. 31, 2010 | Government, Agencies, SRS, Health Reform

Health reform may change the state’s approach to helping families with autistic children.

Slow going in efforts to solve state’s dentist shortage

0 | Aug. 30, 2010 | Workforce, Oral Health

Five years ago, 1,402 dentists were practicing in Kansas. There are more today, but only 25.

Safety-net clinics filling gap in dental services to low-income Kansans

0 | Aug. 30, 2010 | Workforce, Oral Health

Less than one-third of the dentists in Kansas see Medicaid patients, according to a national report.

Replacing town’s only dentist ‘hardest’ project ever

1 | Aug. 30, 2010 | Workforce, Oral Health

Ottawa County Health Planning Commission Executive Director Sara Hodges spent almost five years trying to find a dentist to replace Dr. Fred Hargis.

Lawmakers looking for attendant care funding options

0 | Aug. 27, 2010 | Agencies, KHPA, SRS, Medicaid-CHIP

Members of a legislative budget committee say they are looking for ways to restore recent reductions in Medicaid-funded attendant care services for children in special education.

Parkinson issues executive orders lauding disability work programs

0 | Aug. 27, 2010 | Government

Gov. Mark Parkinson this week signed two executive orders recognizing individuals and agencies that support persons with disabilities and advance state employment opportunities for such individuals.

Slow going in efforts to solve state’s dentist shortage

0 | Aug. 30, 2010 | Workforce, Oral Health

Five years ago, 1,402 dentists were practicing in Kansas. There are more today, but only 25.

Advocates: Mental health system close to collapse

0 | Aug. 26, 2010 | Agencies, SRS, Legislature, Mental Health

The state’s mental health system is falling apart, advocates for the mentally ill said Thursday.

Access programs match donated medical care with needy patients

0 | Aug. 09, 2010 | Health Care Delivery, Safety Net

An idea for matching donated medical services with poor workers in need caught hold with local medical societies and is now flourishing in Wichita, Topeka and in Kansas City.

State HIE plan nears completion

0 | Aug. 19, 2010 | HIE-HIT

A months-long effort to draft a plan for a Kansas health information exchange is nearing completion and will be delivered to federal officials for review by the end of the month.

Safety-net clinics filling gap in dental services to low-income Kansans

0 | Aug. 30, 2010 | Workforce, Oral Health

Less than one-third of the dentists in Kansas see Medicaid patients, according to a national report.

KAMU taking calls for free dental care

0 | Jul. 07, 2010 | SRS, Oral Health, Safety Net

Several safety-net clinics have agreed to take part in a federal grant aimed at providing parents access to free dental care.

Replacing town’s only dentist ‘hardest’ project ever

1 | Aug. 30, 2010 | Workforce, Oral Health

Ottawa County Health Planning Commission Executive Director Sara Hodges spent almost five years trying to find a dentist to replace Dr. Fred Hargis.

HIE/HIT in Kansas

1 | Mar. 16, 2009 | HIE-HIT

This slide presentation to the e-Health Advisory Committee reviews the progress of implementing HIT/HIE in Kansas.

Kansas health foundations evolving

2 | May. 03, 2010 | Advocacy, Foundations, Legislature

Efforts to get the statewide smoking ban through the Legislature show new advocacy approach of some of the state's health foundations.

Governor issues executive order creating health information technology corporation

1 | Jun. 30, 2010 | HIE-HIT

The governor issued an executive order today creating a non-profit corporation to oversee efforts to expand the use of health information technology. The corporation will be governed by a 17-member board, most of whom will be chosen by the governor and named at a later date.

State seeks OK for increased HealthWave premiums

1 | May. 19, 2010 | KHPA, Medicaid-CHIP

In a few weeks, state officials will ask the federal government for permission to raise HealthWave premiums by $40 a month.

Budget cuts forcing changes at KHPA

1 | Jun. 22, 2010 | KHPA, Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

The head of the Kansas Health Policy Authority said the agency's budget situation is "untenable," and that some services being provided now must be cut or eliminated in the months ahead. The chairman of the agency's board predicted a coming "trainwreck."

Businesses challenge smoking ban

1 | Jun. 22, 2010 | Government, Legislature, Tobacco

Several businesses have joined a lawsuit against the state, asserting that the statewide public smoking ban that becomes effective July 1 is unconstitutional.

Cities gearing up for smoking ban changes

1 | Jun. 15, 2010 | Tobacco

Cities and businesses are preparing for the July 1 start of a statewide smoking ban.

State mental hospitals packed

2 | Feb. 04, 2010 | Legislature, Hospitals, Mental Health

Jails getting the overflow.

Child care licensing bill approved

1 | May. 11, 2010 | Child Health, Legislature

Bleary-eyed members of the Kansas House early Tuesday morning approved legislation requiring that all day care homes in the state be inspected and licensed.

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