Kansas County Health Rankings 2009
This report, a first-of-its-kind for Kansas, ranks all 105 counties in the state according to the health and well-being of their citizens. And it demonstrates the extent to which factors other than health care influence our health.

Health Insurance and the Uninsured in Kansas
This annual publication of the Kansas Health Institute provides a snapshot of the insurance status of Kansans in various categories, including age, gender and work status. It also describes how the insurance status of Kansans is changing over time.

Understanding the Health of Kansas Children
Kansas has made strides in protecting and promoting the well-being of its children. A KHI analysis of a 2003 national survey of children, their families, and communities found that Kansas generally fares well, but more work remains.

Kansas Medicaid: A Primer
This report is designed to serve as an introduction to the Kansas Medicaid program, a state/federal partnership that provided health insurance coverage to approximately 250,000 Kansans in 2008.

Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance
There has been much debate about the impact of Lawrence's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance on the restaurant and bar industry. This KHI study indicates that the ordinance did not negatively affect the industry as a whole.

The Growing Health and Financial Costs of Inadequate Health Insurance
While much attention has been devoted to uninsured Kansans, far less has been focused on the problem of underinsurance. A KHI summary of a recent convening and issue brief discuss the growing concern of inadequate health insurance.

Health reform and long-term care

Easing the burden on families

Like many Americans, Topeka resident Jocelyn Lyons is interested in the health reform debate underway in Congress, including a section in one of the massive reform bills that would authorize a new national insurance program for long-term care services. Read more.

• Growing interest in long-term care insurance

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Larned residents trying to save hospital

The community hospital here and its long-term care unit are scheduled to close Sept. 30.

“This is devastating for this community,” said Mary Beth Herrmann, who runs that the Pawnee County Health Department. “We’re in a very grave situation.” Read more.

• 500 attend town hall meeting to save hospital

Kansas Health Digest

• H1N1 flu preparedness summit scheduled WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2 - The White House today announced a swine flu preparedness summit scheduled for Thursday.
• New cuts spare SCHIP and programs for the disabled TOPEKA, July 2 - The governor today announced the steps he plans for solving the state's $160 million budget gap for the 2010 fiscal year, which started yesterday.
• Cruz resigns ombudsman postTOPEKA, July 2 - Gilbert Cruz has resigned his position as state long-term care ombudsman to become vice president of Connections 365, a national telehealth company.
• Committee takes a pass on CLO audit TOPEKA, July 1 - The Legislative Post Audit Committee on Wednesday declined to authorize an investigation of a Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services decision to approve “extraordinary” funding for Community Living Opportunities, a Lenexa-based program that specializes in caring for people with severe disabilities.
• Kansas and Alaska tie as 18th fattest states WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1 - Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states in the past year, including Kansas. In no state was there a decline, according to a report released today.
• Swanson appointed to EMS board TOPEKA, July 1 - House Speaker Mike O'Neal has appointed Rep. Vern Swanson, R-Clay Center, to the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services.
• MediKan, cash assistance cuts take effect Wednesday TOPEKA, June 30 - State officials have notified more than 1,500 adults effective Wednesday they will no longer eligible for MediKan or cash assistance.
• What about taxing services, group asks TOPEKA, June 30 - The governor on Thursday is scheduled to announce his plans for balancing the state budget now that the 2009 fiscal year is closing and the treasury is known to be about $125 million short.
• Bush-era Medicaid rules reversed by HHS TOPEKA, June 3 - Officials here are applauding the reversal of some Bush administration Medicaid regulations because it means they will get to keep millions of dollars in federal aid at a time when budgets are being cut because of state fiscal problems.
• 'Purple Bus Lady' touts health reform KANSAS CITY, Kan., June 29 - Kathie McClure isn't going to take it anymore.
• Built environment conference scheduled TOPEKA, July 29 - Mark Fenton and Dr. Richard Jackson, two nationally-recognized experts on building healthy communities, will speak at the third annual Built Environment and the Outdoors Summit scheduled for Oct. 1-3 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka.
• Kansan confirmed as federal aging chiefTOPEKA, June 26 - As expected, Kathy Greenlee will join former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in Washington to head aging services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Marty Kennedy was named interim secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging.
• HHS releases reports urging reformWASHINGTON, D.C., June 26 - Stepping up the campaign to convince Americans that major health reform is needed this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today released a series of state-by-state reports on the shortcomings of the status quo.
• Health reformers hear from business and laborWASHINGTON, D.C., June 25 - U.S. House members held a third day of hearings on a major reform plan and took testimony from small business groups and the nation's largest labor unions. Meanwhile, a Senate committee worked rapidly on that chamber's version of health reform.
• Congress hears from Sebelius and an insurance insider WASHINGTON, D.C., June 24 - President Obama would pay for a $1 trillion health reform plan by finding about $660 billion in savings in Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years and also by raising income taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year.
• Farmers, ranchers often underinsured TOPEKA, June 24 - Ten percent of the nation’s farmers and ranchers cannot afford health insurance, according to a report issued Wednesday.

Kansas Health Digest archive »

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