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 Mike Shields

Training enough nurses for health reform and aging baby boomers

The nursing shortage was a recognized problem before reform; what will happen now?

0 | Workforce

Officials recently broke ground in Ottawa on a major school expansion that when completed next spring will include, among other things, four simulated hospital rooms to help train nurses, surgical technicians and other health professionals. Kansas schools have been adding training slots at an impressive pace the past few years. But with a wave of nurse retirements on the horizon, the aging of the baby boom and the new demands expected from federal health reform will there be any way to produce enough nurses to meet the needs of Kansas?

Policy and Research

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.

Health Reform Brief 4: Affordable Care Act's Expansion of Medicaid Expected to Boost Kansas Enrollment

0 | Oct. 21, 2011 | Health Reform, Medicaid-CHIP

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

Community Water Fluoridation: The Outlook in Kansas

0 | Jun. 22, 2011 | Oral Health

A look at community water fluoridation ― the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water ― and its relationship to dental health.

Kansas Medicaid: An Overview of the State's Largest Health Care Program

0 | Jun. 15, 2011 | Medicaid-CHIP

As policymakers consider the future of the Medicaid program, KHI created this fact sheet that summarizes the current program in Kansas. It provides an accessible overview of Medicaid in Kansas ― how it operates, its costs and the population it serves.

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.

News

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.

Selling doctors on rural communities

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Workforce, Rural Health

Recruiting doctors to live and work in rural America is a chronic problem. Most health centers try to attract workers with big salaries, a home on a golf course or other cushy perks. Not so in Ashland, Kan., population 855, where the CEO of a tiny hospital is building a reverse recruitment model based on remote access and problems commonly found in third-world countries.

Testimony favors diversion agreements for the mentally ill

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | Legislature, Mental Health

A father whose mentally ill son has had several encounters with police testified in favor of a bill that would create a legal framework so that low-level offenders who are mentally ill could get treatment in lieu of jail time.

Wichita lawmaker introduces KanCare oversight bill

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require an annual evaluation of the state's Medicaid managed care contractors.

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Citing uncertainty in the amount of money Kansas will receive from major tobacco companies as part of a long-standing legal settlement, Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed cutting $16 million from programs that promote parenting skills and early childhood development.

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.

Brownback appoints Gilmore new SRS secretary, unveils ERO

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

Bills aimed at youth ‘pharm parties’ and use of e-cigs before committee

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Children, Tobacco

Two bills before a House corrections committee are aimed at growing problems among youths in Leavenworth County, according to county officials.

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.

RWJF posts Dole forum videos

0 | Sep. 11, 2008 | Imported

TOPEKA, Sept. 11 - Videos of the recent health-care forum at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics have been posted on the Web site of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

1 | Feb. 06, 2012 | Budget, Children, Legislature

Video: Community Water Fluoridation

3 | Jun. 22, 2011 | About KHI

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

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.

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.