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June 29, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

A Kansas Twist—Reopening Plans for Kansas Counties (June 29, 2021)

As the COVID-19 pandemic extends into its second year and most of the country has lifted restrictions, Kansas fully reopened with no restrictions on May 29, 2021. Wyandotte County was the last county in Kansas to remove its mask mandate, which expired at 11:59 p.m. on May 28. Despite declining new COVID-19 cases in Kansas, health officials are concerned that the trend could change as coronavirus variants spread and the pace of vaccinations remains slow. Learn more in this edition of A Kansas Twist.

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June 18, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

COVID-19 Vaccine Intent Across Neighboring States — Pulse on Kansas, Issue 8 (June 18, 2021)

In late April, the leading reason for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Kansas adults and those in neighboring states was a concern about possible side effects. The percentage of vaccine-hesitant adults expressing this concern ranged from 42.7 percent of adults in Missouri to 64.5 percent of adults in Kansas. This issue of Pulse on Kansas uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to detail COVID-19 vaccine intent and reasons for uncertainty among adults age 18 and over in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado and Oklahoma.

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June 18, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

COVID-19 Vaccine Intent Among Kansas Adults — Pulse on Kansas, Issue 7 (June 18, 2021)

In April, while more Kansans reported being vaccinated for COVID-19 and fewer Kansans reported being undecided, the percentage of Kansans who said they definitely would not get a vaccine remained steady. This fact sheet analyzes data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey for April 14 to 26 and focuses on understanding the reasons why some Kansas adults remain uncertain about getting a vaccine.

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May 27, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

A Kansas Twist—Following the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Kansas (May 27, 2021)

A number of bills related to vaccine policy issues were considered during the 2021 legislative session. Most notably, an item prohibiting the expenditure of state funds related to vaccine passports, defined as “written or electronic documentation of an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status,” was included as a proviso in the budget. This high interest in vaccine policy mirrors activity in state legislatures across the country. The latest edition of A Kansas Twist looks at vaccine policy issues in Kansas and other states. It is part of a blog series highlighting the steps that have been taken — and the challenges that remain — in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines are distributed in an equitable manner.

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May 06, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

Change in Vaccine Intent Among Kansas Adults — Pulse on Kansas, Issue 6 (May 6, 2021)

Kansas has made progress on COVID-19 vaccination. As of March 29, 2021, almost half (48.9 percent) of Kansas adults had received at least one dose, which is a six-fold increase from 8.4 percent in mid-January. However, many Kansans are still uncertain about getting a vaccine. Understanding the leading reasons for continued hesitance could help public health professionals devise effective strategies to reach more Kansans who have not been vaccinated. This issue of Pulse on Kansas describes the self-reported intentions of Kansans about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and leading reasons for hesitancy in late March 2021.

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April 29, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Growth During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 2021)

Enrollment in KanCare has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Data suggest that this increase in enrollment has been driven primarily by the state’s decision, in response to federal incentives, to continue eligibility for KanCare enrollees throughout the pandemic. However, even with the increase in enrollment, this continuing coverage policy has reduced overall state KanCare costs due to an increase in the federal match rate. This issue brief provides an overview of how the COVID-19 pandemic and related policy response has affected enrollment in KanCare and how it may continue to do so in the future.

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April 19, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

Medicaid Expansion and Main Street (April 2021)

The potential effects of Medicaid expansion on businesses in Kansas is a relatively under-addressed question. While other studies have looked at the macroeconomic effects of expansion – for example on tax revenues and state economies – no study has examined potential effects on industries and businesses in Kansas as employers. This report estimates that employees switching to Medicaid from employer-sponsored insurance would save private-sector employers in Kansas between $39.6 million and $80.6 million per year. Employers could experience non-financial effects of Medicaid expansion as well, including a healthier workforce. This report was prepared by the Kansas Health Institute for the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas.

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March 05, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Kansas Adults — Pulse on Kansas, Issue 5 (March 5, 2021)

With Kansas in Phase 2 of the state COVID-19 vaccine rollout, it is important to understand who has already been or intends to be vaccinated, who is uncertain about it, and the reasons that might prevent people from getting vaccinated. The Household Pulse Survey considers those who report they “would probably,” “would probably not” and “would definitely not” get a vaccine as “uncertain” about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This brief describes the self-reported intentions of Kansans about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and leading reasons for hesitancy in mid-January, 2021.

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March 04, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

Food Insufficiency During the COVID-19 Pandemic — Pulse on Kansas, Issue 4 (March 4, 2021)

In the wake of job loss and financial insecurity triggered by the pandemic, more Kansans may not have access to enough food. This issue of Pulse on Kansas examines which Kansans age 18 and older experienced food insufficiency before and during the pandemic and how their experience with food insufficiency changed compared to the pre-pandemic period.

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February 23, 2021 | POLICY & RESEARCH

ICYMI: A Shot at Vaccine Policy—Bring It! Series (February 23, 2021)

D. Charles Hunt, M.P.H., and Carlie J. Houchen, M.P.H., Senior Analysts for the Kansas Health Institute, lead a discussion of both the State and Federal components of vaccine policy decision-making, particularly as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccines.

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