Community Health

Healthy communities have safe places to exercise, access to fresh fruit and vegetables, clean air and water, and laws that help protect the public. KHI researchers and journalists work to understand and describe the various factors that influence health, including exercise, school nutrition and immunizations.

Kansas County Health Rankings 2009

0 | Community Health, Rankings-Indicators

This report, a first-of-its-kind for Kansas, ranks all 105 counties in the state according to the health and well-being of their citizens. And it demonstrates the extent to which factors other than health care influence our health.

Policy and Research

Kansas County Health Rankings 2009

0 | May. 07, 2009 | Community Health, Rankings-Indicators

This report, a first-of-its-kind for Kansas, ranks all 105 counties in the state according to the health and well-being of their citizens. And it demonstrates the extent to which factors other than health care influence our health.

Feasibility of a School-Based Influenza Vaccination Program in Kansas

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Child Health, Community Health

This report, published by the Immunize Kansas Kids (IKK) project, found that school-based influenza immunization campaigns are a viable way to vaccinate large numbers of children in short periods of time.

Economic Impact of Lawrence Smoke-Free Ordinance

0 | Jan. 01, 2009 | Community Health, Tobacco

There has been much debate about the impact of Lawrence's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance on the restaurant and bar industry. This KHI study indicates that the ordinance did not negatively affect the industry as a whole.

Achieving and Sustaining High Vaccination Rates Among Kansas Children: An Action Plan

0 | Jul. 07, 2008 | Child Health, Community Health, Immunizations

A newly-released report and issue brief details potential barriers to improving Kansas' childhood immunization rate and provides recommendations for policymakers, providers, parents and others.

Parental and Provider Attitudes, Practices, and Beliefs about Childhood Immunizations in Kansas

0 | Jun. 27, 2008 | Child Health, Community Health

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.

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News

Menu labeling discussed

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

It's not clear what will happen to federal health reform legislation that would require chain restaurants to label menu items, but the Kansas Legislature won't take any action on the measure this year.

Changes sought in smoking ban law

0 | Mar. 17, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

A new proposal in the Kansas House would allow some bars to permit their customers to smoke indoors.

Proposal for soda pop tax gets hearing

0 | Mar. 17, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

Busloads of beverage workers helped fill the hearing room and the hallways of the Statehouse.

Spokesmen for developmentally disabled ask Supreme Court to halt spending cuts

0 | Mar. 12, 2010 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP, Safety Net

The association that represents community programs for the developmentally disabled filed a mandamus action Friday with the Kansas Supreme Court asking for an immediate rollback of Medicaid and other budget cuts.

Parkinson signs smoking ban into law

0 | Mar. 12, 2010 | Legislature, Tobacco

The signing of a bill Friday to enact a statewide smoking ban was a victory for public health officials, Gov. Mark Parkinson said.

Provider-tax bills in the works

0 | Feb. 04, 2010 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Aim is to draw down more federal money.

Committee hears cancer treatment parity bill

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery

Insurance lobbyists renewed their opposition Thursday to a bill that would require health insurers to cover oral chemotherapies the same way they do intravenous chemotherapies.

Teens describe the foster care experience

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Children, SRS, Legislature

“My mother had a habit of leaving me – when I was 10 years old -- with my four brothers and sisters while my dad was in rehab for a week or two at a time,” Rachel Perkins, 19, said Monday during testimony before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.

Advocates: Mental health system in crisis

0 | Mar. 18, 2010 | Advocacy, Legislature, Mental Health

About 300 people from across Kansas came to Topeka as part of Mental Health Advocacy Day.

Kansas Supreme Court to rule on malpractice case

1 | Mar. 02, 2010 | Health Care Delivery, Hospitals

Medical providers and others are anxiously waiting to see what the Kansas Supreme Court will do about the state's $250,000 cap on awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases.

Seniors' mental health needs often unmet

1 | Feb. 16, 2010 | Community Health, Legislature, Workforce

“We’re not reaching the people we need to be reaching with our existing programs,” said Steve Denny, who runs an outreach program for seniors at the Independence-based Four County Mental Health Center.

State mental hospitals packed

1 | Feb. 04, 2010 | Legislature, Hospitals, Mental Health

Jails getting the overflow.

Push for tighter day care licensing questioned

1 | Feb. 02, 2010 | Child Health, Legislature

Legislators this week are holdings hearings on a proposal that would mean stricter standards for some home day care centers.

Mental health system close to collapse, center directors say

1 | Jan. 25, 2010 | SRS, Legislature, Mental Health

Last year, nine of the state’s 27 community mental health centers spent more money than they took in.

Governor calls for sales and tobacco tax increases

1 | Jan. 11, 2010 | Legislature

Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, unveiled key details of a budget plan that calls for raising the state sales tax one cent and boosting tobacco taxes to forestall deeper cuts to schools and to roll back cuts in Medicaid provider rates. But Republican leaders said it would be a bad idea to raise taxes during a recession.

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