Safety Net

The Kansas safety net system provides health care and preventive services to many who otherwise might do without. The system is made up of providers who are required to provide care for patients regardless of the patient's ability to pay; providers who voluntarily provide charity care; and programs that use public funds to operate. With recent economic troubles, demand for these services has only increased. KHI researchers evaluate the system and help plan strategies to sustain and improve it. KHI journalists work to keep policymakers and the public abreast of safety net developments.

Kansas gains new safety-net clinics

Four facilities are open or in development

0 | Safety Net

Starting Saturday, uninsured adults and children who live in and around Pratt will have access to a hometown safety-net clinic. The Agape Clinic is one of four new Kansas safety-net facilities that have opened or are in development.

Policy and Research

Health Insurance and the Uninsured in Kansas

0 | Apr. 30, 2009 | Child Health, Health Insurance, Medicaid-CHIP, Safety Net

This annual publication of the Kansas Health Institute provides a snapshot of the insurance status of Kansans in various categories, including age, gender and work status. It also describes how the insurance status of Kansans is changing over time.

Safety Net System in Kansas

0 | Jan. 22, 2009 | KHI Legislative Testimony, Safety Net

Gina Maree, vice president of Health Policy for the Kansas Health Institute, delivered this presentation on Kansas' safety net system to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee in January, 2009.

The Uninsured in Kansas

0 | Sep. 11, 2008 | Health Insurance, Medicaid-CHIP, Safety Net

New U.S. Census data show that Kansas is one of 10 states in which the uninsured rate went up in the last two years. This KHI fact sheet also provides information about the age and work status of uninsured Kansans.

Kansas Mission of Mercy - Garden City: Patient Characteristics, Needs, and Satisfaction

0 | Aug. 27, 2008 | Health Care Delivery, Rural Health, Safety Net

More than 15 percent of the patients served by a free dental clinic early this year reported they have never been to a dentist.

Uninsured Young Adults in Kansas

0 | Jun. 02, 2008 | Health Insurance, Safety Net

Twenty-three percent of Kansans age 19-34 are uninsured. This fact sheet discusses this population and why these individuals are more likely to be uninsured than any other age group.

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News

Legislators urged to expand Medicaid dental coverage

1 | Oct. 10, 2011 | Legislature, Oral Health, Safety Net

Spokesmen for Kansas safety net clinics and other groups urged legislators to consider providing routine dental care to all those enrolled in Medicaid. But lawmakers said they wanted to see evidence that expanding the benefits could help control the program's costs.

Deficit compromise muddles clinics' role in health reform

0 | Oct. 07, 2011 | Health Reform, Safety Net

Last month, the nation's safety-net clinics thought they were in line for $250 million in federal grants. Instead, they got $29 million. Two Kansas clinics received grants, but five were rejected despite high application scores.

Nine Kansas clinics awarded medical-home grants

0 | Sep. 29, 2011 | Health Reform, Safety Net

Nine safety-net clinics in Kansas have been awarded federal grants to help them earn patient-centered, medical home recognition.

Kansas gains new safety-net clinics

0 | Sep. 26, 2011 | Safety Net

Starting Saturday, uninsured adults and children who live in and around Pratt will have access to a hometown safety-net clinic. The Agape Clinic is one of four new Kansas safety-net facilities that have opened or are in development.

KAMU receives $100,000 grant for dental safety net clinics

0 | Aug. 16, 2011 | Oral Health, Safety Net

Seventeen Kansas safety net clinics that provide dental care will share a $100,000 grant aimed at improving services.

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.

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