Kansas

Status of reform effort: On November 1, 2007, the Kansas Health Policy Authority made comprehensive health reform recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.  The Legislature is expected to consider these recommendations in the 2008 Legislative Session.

On July 1, 2005, legislation created the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA), a non-partisan group charged with coordinating health and health care in Kansas.  During the 2007 legislative session, KHPA convened the Health For All Kansans Steering Committee to provide a structure for negotiating a compromise between the various comprehensive approaches under consideration. 

The work of the Steering Committee resulted in legislation, SB 11, which was signed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) in May 2007.  This legislation included a short-term initiative to address the uninsured while a more comprehensive approach is developed.  The legislation included a premium assistance program for families with incomes below 100 percent of the federal poverty level and provided funding to small businesses to encourage them to group together to buy more affordable coverage.  It also provided children and parents with a “medical home” where they can receive coordinated and continuous care. 

On November 1, 2007, KHPA presented their health reform recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.  The Legislature is expected to consider these recommendations in the 2008 Legislative Session.

The Kansas Health Policy Authority’s recommendations for health care reform include:

Promote Personal Responsibility:

• Encourage healthy behaviors
• Promote health literacy
• Collect and publicize health care cost and quality information
• Ask all Kansas to contribute to the cost of health care

Promote Medical Homes and Pay for Prevention:

• Define medical home
• Increase Medicaid provider reimbursement
• Implement statewide Community Health Record
• Enact statewide smoking ban; increase tobacco user fee
• Collect information on health/fitness of Kansas school children
• Wellness grant program for small businesses

Provide and Protect Affordable Health Insurance:

• Cover more eligible children through aggressive marketing and outreach
• Expand premium assistance to childless adults with incomes up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level
• Assist workers in small businesses through Section 125 plans, a health insurance connector/exchange, and a reinsurance program.*

* S.B. 11, 2007 Legislative Session.  For House Bill Substitute text see:  http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/11.pdf. For KHPA’s recommendations see: http://www.khpa.ks.gov/default.htm.