Kansas Health Institute

Brownback appoints Gilmore new SRS secretary, unveils ERO

0 | Feb. 03, 2012 | KDHE, KDoA, SRS, Medicaid-CHIP

Gov. Sam Brownback today appointed former legislator Phyllis Gilmore to be secretary of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, following the troubled tenure of Rob Siedlecki, who resigned in December after just a year at the post.

SRS admits lax investigation of abuse reports

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | SRS, Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

The acting head of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services today apologized for the agency not doing enough to investigate reports of elder abuse and neglect.

Dental association says new program will increase access in rural areas

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | KDHE

A new Kansas Dental Association program aims to recruit new dentists to work in the state's "dental deserts."

Nursing home administrators pan abuse hotline

0 | Jan. 31, 2012 | SRS, Legislature, Health Care Delivery

The chairman of the House Committee on Aging and Long-term Care says he's fed up with SRS' adminstration of the hotline for reporting adult abuse and exploitation.

KU has ceremonial opening for cancer trial research center

0 | Jan. 31, 2012 | KU Medical Center

Officials from the University of Kansas and Johnson County joined here today to celebrate the opening of the university's new clinical trials center. The facility also serve as headquarters for the Midwest Cancer Alliance.

SRS defends change in food stamp policy

1 | Jan. 30, 2012 | Children, SRS, Legislature, Nutrition

A top official at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services defended a change in policy that has resulted in at least 1,000 children being dropped from the state’s food stamp program.

Group working to reduce infant mortality seeks funding for efforts

0 | Jan. 27, 2012 | Child Health, Children, Early Childhood, KDHE, Health Disparities

The members of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Infant Mortality today had the ear of the state's top health official, and they used the occasion to probe for ways they could secure state or federal funding for their efforts.

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.

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.

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.

KU research leads to new startup company

0 | Jan. 24, 2012 | KU Medical Center

A new startup company geared toward improving care for cancer survivors is forming in Prairie Village, drawing on research by a University of Kansas professor.

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.

Bill attempts to address conflicts of interest among providers

0 | Jan. 19, 2012 | KDoA, Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

The House Committee on Aging and Long-term Care heard testimony on a bill intended to address conflicts of interest in how the state pays for home and community based services for the disabled.

KU pharmacy professor calls for new cancer research institute

0 | Jan. 19, 2012 | KU Medical Center, Legislature

The presentation by Val Stella, KU distinguished professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, before the Senate Commerce Committee detailed a half-dozen landmark drugs developed by KU faculty, including the cancer treatments Velcade, Nanotax and Lusedra.