Lesson 2: Health Policy Reform In Kansas
Why do we need health reform in Kansas?
Because Kansans deserve better a better system. The price of insurance and health care keeps rising and many Kansans can’t afford it. In addition to the rising costs of health care, the health of many Kansans is at risk and many of these problems could be improved if people would quit smoking, eat better or lose weight.
Other reasons for reform include:
- In a 2007 national ranking of overall health, Kansas dropped six positions to 23rd, versus a ranking of 17th nationally in 2006.
- Smoking has risen by about twelve percent.
- Twenty percent of adults in Kansas who smoke contributes to 3,800 deaths annually and $180.4 million in Medicaid expenditures.
- Obesity is up by 8 percent.
- At this rate one out of four healthcare dollars will pay for obesity related treatments by 2020.
- The number of people without insurance has increased by 19 percent.
- Seventy-eight percent of Kansans say it’s important to have programs to help small businesses find affordable health insurance.
- Thirty to forty percent of every dollar spent in the U.S. on health care is wasted on overuse, under use, misuse, and duplication.
Learn more: Kansas Health Facts
Kansas Health Care Costs
Information includes health spending; prescription drug costs and sales, employment-based insurance premiums; hospital expenses; total state budgets and state spending for health; federal taxes returned as state benefits and state tax revenue; and tobacco settlement funds.
Health Coverage and Uninsured
This category includes the health insurance status of the states population (those with various types of health coverage or who are uninsured), and demographic information (such as income, race/ethnicity, age, gender) for those who are uninsured, have employer-based insurance, or Medicaid. Information about Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries can be found in those respective categories.
Health Status
This category includes data about births and prenatal care, deaths and infant mortality, childhood and adult immunizations, smoking and overweight/obesity rates, mental health, diseases such as heart disease, cancer, strokes, and STDs.
Additional Topics
Demographics and the Economy HIV/AIDS Managed Care & Health Insurance Medicaid & SCHIP Medicare Minority Health Providers & Service Use Women's Health
What are the goals of health reform in Kansas?
To encourage Kansans to take charge of their health, get more exercise, quit smoking, make healthy lifestyle choices.
To give Kansans more control in their health care by providing price and quality information so consumers know what they’re paying for.
To encourage people to use "Medical Homes" to help cut costs. Medical homes coordinate care so you don’t waste money by duplicating services.
What are the recommendations made by KHPA?
Health Reform Fact Sheet [PDF]
Summary of Kansas Health Policy Authority recommendations for health reform [PDF]
Kansas Health Policy Authority Health Reform Recommendations 12/19/07 [PDF]
Learn about the health reform process in Kansas [PDF]
