Latest Health News from the Kansas Health Institute

This report details the specifics of KHI’s "The Underinsured in Kansas" project, presenting findings from both a survey and personal interviews that describe what it means to be underinsured in Kansas.

The forecast for the state employee health insurance plan “isn’t pretty.”

All the major health insurance companies in Kansas are among those that have agreed to move ahead of federal deadlines allowing young adults to stay on their parents' policies.

The Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services is gearing up for some major changes.

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services has opened an 11-bed unit at Larned State Hospital in an effort to lessen overcrowding at the state’s mental hospitals. But last week's order temporarily suspending involuntary admissions will stay in effect until more beds are freed up, officials said.

Gov. Mark Parkinson signs ban on texting while driving. Children under age 18 on motorcycles must have helmets and eye protection.

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services has suspended voluntary admissions to the state’s three hospitals for the mentally ill.
All three facilities are full beyond licensed capacities, officials said. “This is as bad as it’s ever been, which is why we took the action we did,” said SRS Deputy Secretary Ray Dalton.

Proposed regulations from the National Institutes of Health would require researchers to disclose more about their financial relationships with private industry.

Caught up in the congressional politics swirling around a pending tax bill are two proposals to extend — once again — subsidies for COBRA health insurance and a "fix" of Medicare payments to doctors.

Officials at the University of Kansas Hospital are preparing to expand to other parts of the state a women's heart screening program that began in Kansas City.

Insurance Commissioner and KHPA chief tapped for national health reform steering committee.

State officials have figured out why the number of Medicaid-funded nursing home stays seemed to go up 9 percent between December 2009 and January 2010. It was a paperwork blip.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1.1 percent of the over-age-18 population has schizophrenia. In Topeka, that would be more than 1,300 people; in Kansas, almost 31,000.

Two prominent health advocates have resigned their posts, citing personal reasons.

In a few weeks, state officials will ask the federal government for permission to raise HealthWave premiums by $40 a month.