Latest Health News from the Kansas Health Institute

A spring 2010 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law has been selected as the newest fellow to the school’s Family Health Care Legal Services Clinic.

Kansas ranks 13th among the 50 states in terms of child well-being, according to the 2010 KIDS COUNT report. Number of children in poverty continues to grow.

Percentage of babies with low birth weights continues to increase, a new report shows.

With any change of government policy, there will be winners and losers. Last week, state officials announced a Medicaid reimbursement change that is expected to benefit many Kansas school districts, including the state's largest. But a small school that specializes in severely disabled children comes out a big loser and now officials are scrambling to figure out how to deal with the problem.

Gov. Mark Parkinson discusses the impact of budget decisions made in 2010 by the Kansas Legislature.

Steve Mock has been named director of communications at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Advocates for people with physical and developmental disabilities will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Monday.

The Kansas Department on Aging will hold three hearings across the state to gather public input on the department’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year.

Rep. Bob Bethell has been talking to the Sam Brownback for governor campaign about his ideas for a new department of state government that would oversee all the state's long-term care programs and services, including mental health.

Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona lived up to his reputation for outspokenness during an appearance here Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kansas Health Foundation.

The U.S. Senate today advanced a bill extending unemployment benefits and homebuyer tax credits. But the bill did not include the additional Medicaid assistance sought by Kansas and other states that need the money to keep their budgets balanced.

A national organization has praised Kansas area agencies on aging for their work in helping low-income seniors sign up for a Medicare benefit that lets them keep their monthly premium and helps with their deductibles and co-pays.

This annual report contains information about the sources of health insurance for Kansans and details the socio-demographic characteristics of the uninsured.

Now that the federal government has approved a change in the state Medicaid plan, Kansas public schools will receive increased funding for health care services they provide children enrolled in special education, officials announced today. But payments for attendant care for the students have been halted and that leaves some schools particularly hard hit.

Federal health officials are working to develop a national inventory of research on effective medical treatments, which will be made available online to the public, doctors and policymakers.