Health Care Delivery

Delivering health care to all Kansans presents challenges because of the size and rural nature of the state. Because it is rural, Kansas has more federally designated critical access hospitals than any other state. Delivery of care in Kansas is made more difficult because of the shortage of nurses, primary care doctors and other health professionals — and those shortages are expected to deepen as baby boomers age. Access to specialty providers is especially limited, which makes it harder for those without health insurance or limited financial means to receive that care. For thousands of Kansans, dental care is worth a long wait in line, sometimes in harsh weather, for access to one of the large, temporary charity clinics pulled together by Mission of Mercy organizers and volunteers. Although access to specialty providers is limited, Kansas has a disproportionately large number of specialty hospitals. KHI researchers and journalists keep abreast of the multitude of issues related to care delivery and provide timely, accurate information to policymakers and the public.

Photo by Phil Cauthon

Regents will hear proposal to train mid-level dental practitioners

0 | Legislature, Oral Health

Members of the governance committee for the Kansas Board of Regents agreed the full board should hear the pros and cons of a proposal to train mid-level dental practitioners. Regents' officials said the discussion likely would happen before the Legislature convenes in January.

Policy and Research

Convening: Potential Costs of Medicaid Expansion in Kansas

0 | Feb. 19, 2013 | Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

A discussion of recent estimates on the cost of expanding Medicaid if Kansas were to do so under the Affordable Care Act. was hosted today by the Kansas Health Institute, the Kansas Policy Institute, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Issue Brief: ACA Medicaid Expansion: Enrollment and Cost Estimates for Kansas Policymakers

0 | Dec. 04, 2012 | Health Insurance, Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

This new issue brief examines the effects of a health reform provision to expand Medicaid eligibility for low-income adults.

Fact Sheet: Snapshot of Insurance Coverage in Kansas — 2012

0 | Nov. 09, 2012 | Health Insurance, Medicaid-CHIP

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

Fact Sheet: KanCare Puts Medicaid in Private Companies' Hands

0 | Oct. 12, 2012 | Health Insurance, Medicaid-CHIP

KanCare is Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to move virtually all of the 380,000 Kansas Medicaid enrollees into managed care plans with three private companies. This fact sheet provides information about the three companies known as managed care organizations, or MCOs.

How Health Reform Could Affect Kansans Living in Poverty

0 | Jul. 31, 2012 | Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

This presentation was delivered during the annual Kansas Conference on Poverty, July 25-27 in Wichita. The conference — themed “Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence” — included national and local experts in health and social policy and drew participants from around the country.

News

Governor's mental health initiative panned at Manhattan meeting

0 | May. 16, 2013 | Government, Mental Health

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disabilty Services has been conducting a listening tour to collect public input on Gov. Sam Brownback's mental health initiative. In Manhattan, critics said the mental health system is stretched too thin to do more without additional funding.

Hamilton County Hospital faces possible closure without $3 million boost

0 | May. 15, 2013 | Hospitals, Rural Health

The Hamilton County commission has been presented a proposal to issue $3 million in no-fund warrants to support the hospital in this far western Kansas community. Administrators have said without the bond, the hospital would run out of money as early as June. Hospital officials will make the case to the community for approving the funds at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at the Syracuse High School gymnasium.

At least four Kansas coalitions applying for navigator grants

0 | May. 15, 2013 | Health Reform, Insurance

At least four Kansas coalitions plan to apply for federal grants aimed at helping consumers navigate the new, online health insurance marketplaces that are supposed to be in place nationwide by Oct. 1 as part of the Affordable Care Act.

CMS won’t penalize hospitals in states slow to expand Medicaid

0 | May. 14, 2013 | Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

That sigh of relief you heard Monday was from hospital administrators in nearly two dozen states, including Florida, Texas and Kansas. That’s because the Obama administration announced Monday that for the next two years, it doesn’t plan to penalize states that have yet to expand Medicaid coverage under the federal health law by targeting them for reduced Medicaid funding.

Insurer Centene: We can do Arkansas-style Medicaid

0 | May. 14, 2013 | Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

Last week the Arkansas legislature approved a plan to give Medicaid beneficiaries money to buy individual policies from private insurers on the state’s health insurance exchange. One insurer is already expressing interest.

House member gathers signatures to extend DD KanCare "carve-out"

0 | May. 15, 2013 | Legislature, KanCare

Rep. John Rubin, a Shawnee Republican, has been collecting signatures from fellow House members who support extending for another year the "carve-out" of long-term supports for the developmentally disabled from KanCare.

When Government Worked for Kansas

0 | May. 16, 2013 | Commentary

For many generations, Kansans were governed by experienced, educated and thoughtful people who realized the great difference that government had made in their lives. The people elected to office had known lives before a time of new and noble purpose. They had come through a civil war, a panic, a great depression and two world wars. They saw the need for a government. It could not go away.

Governor's mental health initiative panned at Manhattan meeting

0 | May. 16, 2013 | Government, Mental Health

Kim Moore: President, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

0 | Jun. 04, 2007 | Who's Who

Moore, trained as an attorney, heads one of the state's leading health foundations, which is based in Hutchinson.

Governor proposes deeper cuts in mental-health spending

0 | Mar. 18, 2011 | Legislature, Mental Health

Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting the budget for community mental health centers by an additional $17 million.

Major medical provider groups ask for longer KanCare transition

0 | Feb. 13, 2013 | Health Care Delivery, KanCare, Medicaid-CHIP

Two of the state's leading medical provider groups, the Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas Medical Group Management Association, have asked state officials to extend the transition period for KanCare another 90 days, saying more time is needed to work out a lengthy list of problems.

A New Confederacy

1 | May. 18, 2013 | Commentary

Over the five decades leading to a new millennium, state government in Kansas had assumed a rhythm of reform and advancement. Today it thrums with the drone of demolition.

Kansas HIA Report: Potential Health Effects of Casino Development in Southeast Kansas

5 | Oct. 23, 2012 | Community Health, Public Health Systems and Services

The Kansas Health Institute recently completed its first health impact assessment, which examined the potential health effects associated with casino development in Southeast Kansas. This new report features findings of the health impact assessment and outlines recommendations to maximize the positive health benefits of a proposed casino and mitigate its potential negative effects on health.

E-cigarettes unregulated until legal status determined

5 | Nov. 01, 2010 | Agencies, Tobacco

Proponents say e-cigarettes deliver only nicotine with none of the hazardous chemicals of traditional cigarettes. The smoke-like vapor emitted is virtually odorless and harmless, they say. But opponents say little is known of e-cigarettes' health effects and until they've been rigorously studied, they should be banned - at least from public spaces.

Governor signs into law stem cell center bill

2 | Apr. 22, 2013 | KU Medical Center

Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law a bill requiring the University of Kansas Medical Center to create a center for conducting non-embryonic stem cell research.

Larned State Hospital nursing director fired

1 | May. 01, 2013 | Workforce, Hospitals, Mental Health

Larned State Hospital has fired its nursing director, but state officials would not comment on why, according to a report published by the Garden City Telegram. The hospital — one of two state-run inpatient facilities for mentally ill adults — has struggled with staffing issues in recent years.

Forms available for using federal health insurance exchanges

1 | Apr. 30, 2013 | Health Reform, Insurance

Federal health officials today released the forms to be used by applicants for health insurance coverage through the online exchanges or marketplaces that are scheduled to be in place in each of the states by Oct. 1.