Health Care Delivery

Delivering health care to all Kansans presents challenges because of the size and rural nature of the state. Because it is rural, Kansas has more federally designated critical access hospitals than any other state. Delivery of care in Kansas is made more difficult because of the shortage of nurses, primary care doctors and other health professionals — and those shortages are expected to deepen as baby boomers age. Access to specialty providers is especially limited, which makes it harder for those without health insurance or limited financial means to receive that care. For thousands of Kansans, dental care is worth a long wait in line, sometimes in harsh weather, for access to one of the large, temporary charity clinics pulled together by Mission of Mercy organizers and volunteers. Although access to specialty providers is limited, Kansas has a disproportionately large number of specialty hospitals. KHI researchers and journalists keep abreast of the multitude of issues related to care delivery and provide timely, accurate information to policymakers and the public.

Janet Scott

Mental health system close to collapse, center directors say

1 | SRS, Legislature, Mental Health

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

Policy and Research

Scarce Resource Allocation Planning Documents for the State of Kansas

0 | Feb. 26, 2010 | Health Care Delivery

During a public health emergency, there is a need to have established plans with directions for maximizing the efficient use of available resources. KHI has drafted two reports, produced upon request from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, that outline recommendations for developing these type of plans at the state, regional and local levels. KHI and KDHE are seeking feedback from stakeholders in reviewing and providing comments about these reports.

Evaluation of the MOBI-KS Program

0 | May. 01, 2009 | Child Health, Health Care Delivery, Immunizations

KHI evaluated the Maximizing Office Based Immunizations in Kansas program, or MOBI-KS, to assess its effectiveness and to identify processes that can be improved.

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.

Kansas Medicaid: A Primer

0 | Feb. 01, 2009 | Medicaid-CHIP

An introduction to the Kansas Medicaid program, a state/federal partnership that provided health insurance coverage to approximately 250,000 Kansans in 2008. This primer was jointly produced by the Kansas Legislative Research Department and the Kansas Health Institute, with technical assistance from the Kansas Health Policy Authority

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.

News

Insurance bill would 'test track' autism coverage

0 | Mar. 11, 2010 | Child Health, Legislature, Insurance

A bill that sets the stage for requiring state-regulated insurance plans to cover autism was heard Wednesday in the Senate insurance committee.

Advocate: Quality assurances missing from nursing home bill

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | KHPA, Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

“There’s nothing in here that puts a focus on quality of care. It's a sieve,” said Mitzi McFatrich of Kansas Advocates for Better Care.

Disabled want faster movement off waiting list

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Advocacy, Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Advocates for the disabled stuck 58 crosses in the ground outside the Statehouse in an effort to call attention to the 58 who have died while on the state's waiting list for Medicaid-funded in-home services.

Appropriations Committee weighs nursing home tax

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

House Bill 2673 would use a $1,325-per-year tax on licensed nursing home beds to generate about $30 million which, in turn, would be used to draw down $56 million in additional Medicaid funding.

Cost transparency bill 'step in right direction'

0 | Mar. 09, 2010 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery, Insurance

A House bill that would require health care providers to make it easier for consumers to find out the cost of health services is a good start, several supporters said Tuesday.

Memo chills support for HCBS provider tax

0 | Mar. 08, 2010 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Bills designed to increase federal support for home and community based services were dealt a major setback Monday when legislators learned federal officials were unlikely to go along with the plan.

Law enforcement officials urged to train for dealing with the mentally ill

0 | Feb. 01, 2010 | SRS, Mental Health

With police often called upon to deal with the mentally ill, special training is called for to help defuse tense situations before they become violent.

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.

Ways and Means subcommittee finishes KHPA and SRS budgets

0 | Mar. 11, 2010 | KHPA, SRS, Legislature

Some of the Legislature's strongest supporters of early childhood development programs signed off on sharp cuts in children's programs, re-emphasizing the signal from Senate GOP leaders that tax increases will be necessary.

Resolution intended to preserve cap on damages

0 | Mar. 08, 2010 | Legislature, Health Care Delivery

The House Judiciary Committee introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution to give the Legislature authority to limit non-economic damages in personal injury cases.

Soda pop tax up Wednesday in Senate panel

0 | Mar. 10, 2010 | Legislature, Nutrition

A bill that would tax makers or first vendors of soda pop and other sugary drinks at 1 cent per teaspoon of sugar is scheduled to be heard Wednesday by the Senate Assessment & Taxation Committee

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.

No CHIP bonus for Kansas

1 | Dec. 21, 2009 | Medicaid-CHIP

Nine states have been awarded almost $73 million in federal bonus payments for enrolling more children in their state-run health insurance programs. But Kansas wasn't among them despite expectations by some.