Health

Sebelius Sets Aside $1.7 Million For Community Health Centers In Kansas

Bryan Thompson — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:05:10 +0000

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $150 million in new grant money for federally-funded community health centers around the country.

The grants--at least $55,000 each--are through the Affordable Care Act and only available to safety net clinics that are already federally funded. More than $1.7 million has been set aside for 16 community health centers in Kansas.

Sebelius says they'll use the money to help uninsured patients determine their eligibility and compare coverage options.

Advocates Seek Reduction In Medicaid Waiting-List Rolls

Kansas Health Institute — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:33:37 +0000

Advocates for Kansans with disabilities are urging legislators to adopt Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to reduce the number of people on the waiting list for Medicaid services.

Currently, about 5,000 Kansans with developmental and physical disabilities are on the list. Brownback wants to spend $18 million to provide services to approximately 600 of them.

Advocates are using a video to help make their case to lawmakers. It features parents of disabled Kansans and some of the caseworkers who are trying to help them gain access to services.

Medicare Competitive Bidding Program Expands To Wichita

Bryan Thompson — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:27:25 +0000

A competitive bidding program aimed at helping Medicare avoid overpaying for products like scooters, diabetic testing supplies, and oxygen tanks is being expanded to 91 communities nationwide, including Wichita.

The program began a little more than two years ago as a demonstration project in nine communities, including Kansas City.

Bill Raising HIV Quarantine Concerns Advancing

Stephen Koranda — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:42:53 +0000

Lawmakers could soon take a final vote on a controversial bill updating the state's laws for testing people who may have been exposed to some contagious diseases.

KanCare Selection Period Ends Thursday

Bryan Thompson — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:03:53 +0000

The clock is ticking for the 380,000 Kansans whose health insurance comes through the Medicaid program now known as KanCare.

The KanCare program assigned each member to one of three private companies administering the benefits as of the first of the year. Members who prefer to switch to a different company have to do so no later than this Thursday.

At a recent educational meeting in Hays, KDHE policy and program analyst Effie Swanson said one reason to switch might be if your doctor is not signed up with your health plan’s network.

Abortions In Kansas Down 5.4 Percent

Briana O’Higgins — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:24:52 +0000

According to a report issued Friday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment there were 7,457 abortions reported in 2012, which is 428 fewer than were reported in 2011.

The preliminary report, Abortions in Kansas 2012, is an analysis of data collected by the KDHE Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics.

Which Kansas Counties Are Healthiest?

Chandra Stauffer and Bryan Thompson — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:00:05 +0000

The latest Kansas County Health Rankings have been released and Johnson and Riley counties have the healthiest residents in Kansas again this year.

Wyandotte County and a cluster of counties in southeast Kansas remain among the least healthy.

Sedgwick County came in at 72 out of 102 counties ranked.

Kansas House Passes Bill Restricting Abortion Providers' Funding, Access To Schools

Associated Press — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:14:52 +0000

The state House has given final approval to a bill that restricts funding, access to schools, and further regulates abortion providers.

House bill 2253 passed on a 92-31 vote Wednesday and now heads to the Senate. Republican leaders there are promising their chamber will now consider the bill quickly.

More Than 1 In 3 Counties Lack A KanCare Dentist

Bryan Thompson — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:03:06 +0000

A new report from the Kansas Dental Project finds that dental services are unavailable in more than one third of the counties in Kansas for people covered by KanCare. KanCare is the new, privatized Medicaid system in Kansas.

Sen. Roberts Says Bill Would Improve SNAP, Save Money

Bryan Thompson — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:32:25 +0000

Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts has introduced a bill to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.

Sen. Roberts says the bill would save $36 billion over ten years by eliminating waste, and closing loopholes in the program.

“There were literally billions of dollars in savings that we could find without ever touching the food on the table, or in the kitchen cupboard, for the millions of Americans who rely on this program to help feed their families," he says.