By ANDY MARSO
KHI News Service
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- A doctor from southwest Missouri told legislators Monday that the state could see Medicaid savings if it helped rural physicians connect with national experts through online videoconferencing.
Roger Cady, who specializes in headache treatment and primary care in Joplin, told the Vision 2020 Committee that by using telemedicine to improve treatment of just one prevalent health condition, the state could save thousands per physician.
“It’s pretty significant when you think about that and choose the right areas of intervention,” he said.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
KC hospital system defends record as Medicare cuts loom
By Andy Marso
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, KAN. — A spokeswoman for Kansas City's largest hospital system defended its record on patient safety following an announcement last month that more than half its facilities are among those to be penalized by the federal government for hospital acquired ailments.
A total of 721 hospitals nationwide will lose 1 percent of their Medicare reimbursements in fiscal year 2015 because they scored poorly in federal metrics that measure the prevalence of conditions like urinary tract infections, central line infections and other complications patients acquire while in the hospital.
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, KAN. — A spokeswoman for Kansas City's largest hospital system defended its record on patient safety following an announcement last month that more than half its facilities are among those to be penalized by the federal government for hospital acquired ailments.
A total of 721 hospitals nationwide will lose 1 percent of their Medicare reimbursements in fiscal year 2015 because they scored poorly in federal metrics that measure the prevalence of conditions like urinary tract infections, central line infections and other complications patients acquire while in the hospital.
Friday, January 2, 2015
State finalizes sale of Rainbow Mental Health Facility to KU Endowment
By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — State officials have sold the former Rainbow Mental Health Facility building to the University of Kansas Endowment Association.
The 11-acre property is a short distance from KU Medical Center.
KHI News Service
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — State officials have sold the former Rainbow Mental Health Facility building to the University of Kansas Endowment Association.
The 11-acre property is a short distance from KU Medical Center.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Number of Uninsured Kansans in 2013 Unchanged from 2012
By Cheng-Chung Huang, M.P.H.
and
Sheena Smith, M.P.P.
Public Health via Kansas Health Institute
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- The latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show an estimated 348,097 (12.3 percent) Kansans didn’t have health insurance in 2013, which is not a significant change from 2012 (12.6 percent). Kansas had lower uninsured rates across all age groups compared to national rates for 2013.
The Kansas Health Institute has developed a fact sheet that details this information.
Public Health via Kansas Health Institute
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- The latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show an estimated 348,097 (12.3 percent) Kansans didn’t have health insurance in 2013, which is not a significant change from 2012 (12.6 percent). Kansas had lower uninsured rates across all age groups compared to national rates for 2013.
The Kansas Health Institute has developed a fact sheet that details this information.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Three tips to help kids through the holidays when a serious family illness intervenes
University of Kansas Hospital
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The holidays are a special time for children. However, for some children the job of the season is tempered when a family member is dealing with a serious illness.
Children can often feel cheated or resentful when holiday joy has to be shared with the very serious business of critical health care.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The holidays are a special time for children. However, for some children the job of the season is tempered when a family member is dealing with a serious illness.
Children can often feel cheated or resentful when holiday joy has to be shared with the very serious business of critical health care.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Influenza on the rise in Kansas
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Influenza activity has increased substantially in Kansas, and health officials are encouraging everyone six months of age and older to get vaccinated, if they have not already done so this season.
Based on data from the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), influenza activity has increased in nearly every region of the state.
Overall, more than 10 percent of patient visits to ILINet clinics during the week ending December 20, 2014 were due to influenza-like illness, and Kansas is reporting “widespread” influenza activity. Since September 1, 2014 through December 20, 2014, 333 influenza- or pneumonia-related deaths have been reported in Kansas during the current influenza season.
Based on data from the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), influenza activity has increased in nearly every region of the state.
Overall, more than 10 percent of patient visits to ILINet clinics during the week ending December 20, 2014 were due to influenza-like illness, and Kansas is reporting “widespread” influenza activity. Since September 1, 2014 through December 20, 2014, 333 influenza- or pneumonia-related deaths have been reported in Kansas during the current influenza season.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Kansas and Missouri consumers have big stake in U.S. Supreme Court decision
By Jim McLean
KHI News Service
TOPEKA — Consumers in Kansas and Missouri are among those who could be most affected if the U.S. Supreme Court eliminates federal subsidies in states that didn’t set up their own health insurance marketplaces.
KHI News Service
TOPEKA — Consumers in Kansas and Missouri are among those who could be most affected if the U.S. Supreme Court eliminates federal subsidies in states that didn’t set up their own health insurance marketplaces.
KDHE and CDC Investigate New Bourbon Virus
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate a new virus which has been linked to the death of a Kansas resident during the summer of 2014.
Although the host of this new virus, called Bourbon virus, is unknown at this time, it is thought to be transmitted through the bites of ticks or other insects.
Although the host of this new virus, called Bourbon virus, is unknown at this time, it is thought to be transmitted through the bites of ticks or other insects.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
COMMENTARY: Health Insurance in Kansas: Are Premiums Increasing?
By Roberta Riportella
Professor of Community Health, K-State Research and Extension
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Consumers might read or hear mixed information about premium increases in the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace. Premiums are the monthly fixed costs you will pay for your health insurance policy.
A Pricewaterhouse Coopers report shows that premiums in Kansas have gone up more than in the rest of the nation, while the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) reports that the average premium for all plans offered in the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace increased just 0.1 percent from 2014 to 2015.
Professor of Community Health, K-State Research and Extension
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Consumers might read or hear mixed information about premium increases in the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace. Premiums are the monthly fixed costs you will pay for your health insurance policy.
A Pricewaterhouse Coopers report shows that premiums in Kansas have gone up more than in the rest of the nation, while the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) reports that the average premium for all plans offered in the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace increased just 0.1 percent from 2014 to 2015.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
