Parental and Provider Attitudes, Practices, and Beliefs about Childhood Immunizations in Kansas
Common themes that emerged from interviews with parents and providers about the childhood immunization process indicate that parents want more information and follow-up than is currently available.

Immunizing Children in Their Medical Home — Does it Make a Difference?
Children immunized in private clinics received more timely immunizations during the first year of life than those immunized in local health departments, but by 24 months of age, that difference disappears.

Employer-Sponsored Insurance in Kansas
Employment, even full-time, is no guarantee of access to employer-sponsored insurance. This new issue brief discusses the availability of employer-based health insurance in Kansas.

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

Are Kansas Children Prepared to Succeed in Kindergarten?
A new assessment shows that most Kansas children are ready to start school and that those who participate in some kind of early-learning program do better in all academic areas than those who do not.

Multi-State Learning Collaborative II in Kansas
This project explores how public health departments, when working together as regions, can use Quality Improvement tools to address public health challenges.

Health Insurance and the Uninsured in Kansas
About 89 percent of Kansans have health insurance. That’s better than many states. Still, more than 300,000 Kansans are uninsured. This report provides an overview of important trends in health insurance coverage as well as a profile of the uninsured.

Lessons from the Kansas Reinsurance Modeling Project
This set of materials explains reinsurance and discusses how it might be useful when combined with other health reforms. The discussion focuses on the basics of reinsurance, other state reforms, and possible ways that reinsurance could be used in Kansas.

Obesity Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Kansas
A new statewide survey shows that racial and ethnic minorities in Kansas, particularly blacks and Hispanics, are more likely than their white counterparts, to be overweight or obese.

Health Reform in Kansas: Looking East to Missouri
Kansas policymakers are interested in steps taken by their counterparts in Missouri to make it easier for employers to offer health coverage to workers. This summary of Missouri’s reform legislation was prepared for the Kansas Health Policy Authority.

Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance
A new Scorecard on state health system performance ranks Kansas 20th. This forum brief and supporting information discuss the reasons for that ranking and what steps the state can take to improve it.

Reinsurance and State Health Reform: The Role of Reinsurance as a Public Policy Tool in Kansas
Several states are using reinsurance programs to stabilize small group markets and expand access to health insurance coverage. This issue brief explains reinsurance and discusses how it might be used as part of a broader set of health reforms in Kansas.

Kansas Health Digest

• Stabilization fund settles with five ‘pill mill’ patients TOPEKA, July 3 - A state-run, medical malpractice insurance program has settled with five former patients of Dr. Stephen Schneider, a Haysville osteopath facing federal charges of running a “pill mill” operation that allegedly contributed to the deaths of four patients.
• Restaurant inspection transfer underway TOPEKA, July 3 - The transfer of restaurant and lodging inspections from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Department of Agriculture is going smoothly, agency officials said.
• Appointee has concerns about energy group TOPEKA, July 2 - House Speaker Melvin Neufeld said today that the legislator assigned to serve on an environmental policy group formed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was picked because he is skeptical of the organization chosen to facilitate the group’s deliberations.
• Kansas and Missouri reporters tapped for fellowships COLUMBIA, Mo., July 2 - The Association of Health Care Journalists has named the 2008-09 class of the Midwest Health Journalism Program, an annual fellowship program for reporters and editors from Kansas and Missouri.
• Health policy authority asked to produce e-mails TOPEKA, July 1 - The Legislature's research department has asked the Kansas Health Policy Authority to provide two months of outgoing e-mails from 10 of the health agency's key officials, including Executive Director Marcia Nielsen.
• Medicaid changes on hold for now TOPEKA, July 1 - Congress has shelved proposed changes in Medicaid regulations that would have shifted more of the nation's health care costs onto states.
• CMS holding doctor claims until Senate returns WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1 - Doctors who treat Medicare patients were scheduled for a 10.6 percent cut in fees beginning today, but now their claims won't be processed at all until at least July 15.
• Bethell to lead HCBS oversight committee TOPEKA, June 30 - State Rep. Bob Bethell, R-Alden, has been named chairman of the Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services Oversight.
• The other shoe drops: Revenue less than projected TOPEKA, June 30 - The first shoe dropped Friday when Gov. Kathleen Sebelius revealed that she had told her cabinet secretaries to pare their budgets by 1 to 2 percent. The second shoe falls late this afternoon.
• KDHE fills key vacancy: Others remainTOPEKA, June 27 - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has a new director of environment.
  
  Governor seeks spending reductions TOPEKA, June 27 - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced Friday that she has asked her cabinet secretaries to reduce their fiscal year 2009 budgets by 1 to 2 percent.
  
  State epidemiologist to advise CongressTOPEKA, June 27 - State Epidemiologist Gail Hansen has resigned her position to accept a one-year congressional fellowship.
• KDoA solicits input on FY 2010 budgetTOPEKA, June 27 - The Kansas Department on Aging is soliciting public input on its budget for fiscal year 2010.
  
  Disparities top concern at first-ever joint budget forumTOPEKA, June 26 - The chiefs of the departments of social services and aging were told that equal access to services is essential. But they warned advocates not to expect too much in a time when state revenues are falling below expectations.
• New KU cancer drug gets clinical trialKANSAS CITY, Kan., June 26 - Patient tests will begin for a new ovarian cancer drug developed by University of Kansas researchers. KU officials said the trials will help the university attain federal cancer institute designation.
• Lt. Gov. urges more cooperation on energy issuesTOPEKA, June 26 - Kansas can be a leader in helping make the U.S. less dependent on coal and foreign oil, participants at an energy summit were told here today.
• Hays cancer center joins clinical trials network TOPEKA, June 25 - A program intent on making clinical cancer trials available to patients throughout the state is expanding.
• Poll: Health costs among voters' economic concerns TOPEKA, June 25 - Health care costs are among the pocketbook issues most on the minds of voters this election year.
• Study: Numbers of uninsured vary by region TOPEKA, June 25 - A new National Center for Health Statistics study documents regional disparities in the numbers of uninsured adults and children.

Kansas Health Digest archive »

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DHS Inspector General Issues Recommendation on Reporting Procedures of Immigrant Detainee Deaths

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UnitedHealth Group Announces Lower Profit Outlook, Will Restructure To Focus More on Regional Coverage