Governor proposes cuts in children's programs

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. Continue Reading

‘Turf battle’ continues over dental practitioner bill

A bill that would allow a new type of oral health care provider in Kansas faces opposition from dentists. But backers of the bill include the state’s safety net clinics, major health foundations, several dentists who disagree with the association’s stand and officials at Fort Hays State University, which wants to launch a program to train the registered dental practitioners. Continue Reading

Counties face loss of underage drinking prevention funds

"If they can vote and they can go to war, then they can sure enough drink." Elizabeth Stamper said she hears that a lot in her line of her work. She's the point person in Seward County for coordinating underage drinking prevention efforts. Continue Reading

Governor calls for large budget reserve as part of a packed agenda

In a speech one spectator described as brief but dense, Gov. Sam Brownback on Wednesday gave his constitutionally mandated State of the State message to the Legislature. The governor used fleeting phrases and 25 minutes to sketch a heavily weighted agenda that augurs a session potentially more complex than any since 1992, which was when lawmakers last rewrote the finance formula for public schools at the same time they redrew their own and federal legislative districts. Continue Reading

Health issues facing the 2012 Legislature

With the launch of the new legislative session this week, policymakers face a variety of health-related issues. KHI News Service has compiled and summarized the agendas of the administration and the state’s major health-related groups and agencies. Continue Reading

Policy & Research

Testimony - A Planned Health Impact Assessment of Casino Development in Southeast Kansas

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | KHI Legislative Testimony

In testimony to the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, KHI discusses a planned health impact assessment of casino development in Southeast Kansas.

Testimony - Kansas Partnership for Improving Community Health

0 | Jan. 25, 2012 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Public Health Systems and Services

In testimony to a joint meeting of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and House Health and Human Services Committee, KHI discusses the Kansas Partnership for Improving Community Health and the new KansasHealthMatters.org website.

Health Reform Brief 5: Medicare Changes Include Care Coordination and Prescription Drug Costs

0 | Jan. 24, 2012 | Health Reform

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

Snapshot of Insurance Coverage in Kansas

0 | Jan. 23, 2012 | Health Insurance

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

Testimony - Vaccine Requirement Exemptions (2012 HB 2094)

0 | Jan. 18, 2012 | Immunizations, KHI Legislative Testimony

In testimony to the House Human Health and Services Committee, KHI discusses vaccine requirement exemptions.

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.

More in Policy & Research

News

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.

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.

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.

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."

Registration open for faith-based initiative aimed at SEK health

0 | Feb. 02, 2012 | Rural Health, Social Determinants of Health

The "Leadership and Faith, Southeast Kansas" program is intended to equip community members with leadership skills and build on the momentum of Project 17, an initiative aimed at improving the economy and quality of life in southeast Kansas.

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.

War savings may be key to long-term 'doc fix' deal

0 | Feb. 01, 2012 | Congress

KHN's Mary Agnes Carey talks with Jackie Judd about the congressional conference committee trying to hammer out a bargain on a payroll tax cut extension and the Medicare "doc fix." If the conferees — who are now discussing the possibility of a permanent "doc fix" — fail to agree to a proposal, doctors who see Medicare patients are in line for a 27 percent cut slated to take effect in March.

More in News

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

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.

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.

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.

Congresswoman wants insurance exchange rules changed

0 | Aug. 31, 2011 | Health Reform, Insurance

A key congresswoman has asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to clarify its proposed rules for state health insurance exchanges to assure the new systems aren't onerous to small business.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brownback tax plan would harm poor families, advocates say

1 | Jan. 12, 2012 | Budget, Legislature

Advocates for poor and low-income families say Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to eliminate the state’s earned income tax credit would hurt those that administration officials say it’s meant to help.

Senators seek constitutional amendment for 'rainy day' fund

1 | Jan. 05, 2012 | Budget, Legislature

A majority of the Kansas Senate, including Republicans and Democrats, have agreed to seek an amendment to the state constitution requiring that 0.25 percent of annual state revenues go into a budget stabilization fund.

Legislators aim to revamp oversight committee

1 | Jan. 03, 2012 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

With lawmakers poised to return to the Statehouse next week for the launch of the 2012 session, key legislators from both parties say they want to revamp the Health Policy Oversight Committee so that is has a new focus on monitoring the state's Medicaid managed care contracts.

Johnson County and Lawrence suspend use of Kansas River water due to algae concern

2 | Sep. 14, 2011 | Community Health, Environment, KDHE

Officials in Johnson County and Lawrence have temporarily stopped drawing municipal drinking water from the Kansas River because of a new problem with a potentially toxic, blue-green algae.
The Kansas Budget Puzzle

The Kansas Budget Puzzle

The latest state budget info

Budget Blog

What’s normal spending growth?

Feb. 03, 2012

The governor’s proposed State General Fund (SGF) budget for fiscal year 2013 is lower than the amount that the state actually spent five years earlier. How unusual is that? By historical standards, it’s very unusual. The Kansas budget, along with the other 49 state budgets, normally grows, and to realistically plan for the future we should consider the historic trend.

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Previous Blog Posts

The governor’s long-term budget projection

How did the governor work the Budget Puzzle?

What a difference three years makes

More Budget Blog entries

Introducing: KHI's new Budget Puzzle and budget page

More Videos


Other audio clips

Conservative activist urges Kansas membership in health care compact

KPR story: SRS defends new food stamp policy for children of illegal immigrants

Safety net clinics seeking funding increase