Health

The state of Kansas will need to write new standards for health insurance policies as part of the federal health care law. State officials will need to decide on the minimum coverage requirements for policies sold on a state health insurance exchange.

At a public meeting in Topeka Wednesday, the Kansas Insurance Department took public comments on the standards.

Some advocates at the meeting argued for more comprehensive benefits, especially for children. Pediatrician and KU Med professor Pam Shaw would like to see more extensive benefits for vision and dental care.

Kansas has the 4th highest Sudden Infant Death syndrome or SIDS rate in the US, and it’s even higher for black children.

An area group organized community baby showers to be held in Wichita Saturday, to promote good health and safe sleep for babies.

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer Tuesday issued a proclamation at the City Council meeting recognizing “A Healthy Baby Begins With You Day”.

SIDS Network Director Christi Schunn says the infant mortality rate in Kansas among black infants is the highest in the country.

Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration resubmitted a Medicaid waiver proposal to the federal government after the first proposal needed to be withdrawn.

The state needs the waiver in order to use federal Medicaid dollars for the Brownback administration’s managed care plan, called KanCare.

State officials withdrew a proposal that was submitted April 26 after realizing that they had not notified Haskell Health Center in Lawrence and the White Cloud Health Station.

It’s a little bit later than planned, but the State of Kansas has resubmitted its request for federal authority to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program.

State insurance regulators have started closely reviewing health insurance premiums that increase by 10 percent or more.

In the past, the state insurance department didn’t review rate hike proposals of less than 12 percent.

The change complies with a requirement in the federal Affordable Care Act, which Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration strongly opposes.

The Kansas Department of Insurance is led by an elected commissioner, who is not part of the executive branch.