Public Health Systems and Services

The structure, financing and staffing of the public health system each play a crucial role in improving the health status of Kansans. State and local health departments strive to organize and fund themselves in a manner that maximizes their positive impact on community health and well being. KHI researchers examine and evaluate the organization, financing and delivery of public health services across Kansas as a whole and within Kansas communities individually. KHI News Service journalists document developments that affect the public health system. For more information about the kinds of public health programs and issues that are relevant to Kansas, please see the Community Health topic.

Photo by Lisa Horn.

Kansas health departments moving to meet national standards

Thin resources help spur new partnerships with hospitals

0 | Hospitals, Public Health

Accreditation changes the current public health paradigm, according to Charlotte Marthaler of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. "Right now in public health, a lot of the priorities are set by state and federal government. It comes to us in the form of categorical programs. So we tend to do what we get paid to do,” she said. "This is setting a new direction for the health department."

Policy and Research

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.

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.

The Private Immunization Delivery System for Children in Kansas

0 | Dec. 23, 2009 | Immunizations

This update to a similar report from 2006 looks at the availability of private primary care clinics in Kansas that offer immunization services to children and identifies ways in which access to these services can be improved.

Federal Funding of Public Health Activities in Kansas

0 | Nov. 16, 2009 | Public Health Systems and Services

This report investigates how the levels of federal public health funding in Kansas compare with those in other states and identifies areas in which Kansas may have opportunities to expand funding.

The Road Toward Accreditation Through Regional Cooperation

0 | Nov. 10, 2009 | Presentations, Public Health Systems and Services

This presentation describes Kansas' work using the concept of regional cooperation to meet potential national accreditation standards for public health departments.

More in Public Health Systems and Services Research

News

State officials call attention to "cooling centers"

0 | Jul. 14, 2011 | Community Health, Emergency Preparedness

Heat and humidity have state health officials urging Kansans to check on friends and neighbors who lack air conditioning.

Kan-ed considers options with reduced budget

0 | Jun. 27, 2011 | Emergency Preparedness, KDHE

When it was created in 2003, Kan-ed enjoyed wide bipartisan support. Now, however, even some lawmakers who sponsored Kan-ed's creation think it's time to stop funding as Kan-ed officials grapple with making $4 million in cuts.

Kan-ed funded computer network critical in Joplin crisis

0 | Jun. 27, 2011 | Emergency Preparedness, KDHE

In the wake of the Joplin tornado, medical demand surged at 10 southeast Kansas hospitals. A relatively new piece of technology proved critical in quickly deploying limited resources in response to the disaster — EMResource.

Missouri docs approved for temporary Kansas practice

0 | May. 27, 2011 | Community Health, Emergency Preparedness, Health Care Delivery

In response to the Joplin tornado, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback issued an executive allowing some Missouri doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to temporarily practice in Kansas.

Joplin tornado's toll felt across southeast Kansas

0 | May. 24, 2011 | Emergency Preparedness, Health Care Delivery

Health care providers from southeast Kansas rushed to help after the deadly tornado that struck nearby Joplin, Mo. Scores of tornado victims also were sent to the hospital in Pittsburg.

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.

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.

More in Public Health Systems and Services News