By Andy Marso
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — Fifteen medical-related political action committees registered with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission had a total of almost $600,000 cash on hand at the July 24 reporting deadline, and officials from the top PACs said they’re still forming the legislative agendas that may inform how they spend that money.
Representatives of several PACs said that their groups will mull their positions on Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act.

The expansion, part of the health reform law commonly called Obamacare, has been opposed by Gov. Sam Brownback and Republican legislative leaders in Kansas. About half the states have accepted the expansion, which is paid 100 percent by federal tax dollars in the short-term and 90 percent thereafter.

In Kansas it is estimated that the expansion could extend health insurance coverage to up to 100,000 people.

The Kansas Hospital Association, which had about $94,000 cash on hand at the end of the last reporting period, has advocated for Medicaid expansion.

But the association did not make its campaign contributions contingent on support of that issue during the primary season, and Chad Austin, the group’s senior vice president for government relations, said it has no plans to do so in the general election.

“They’re looking at a variety of different factors that play into who they’re going to give a contribution for,” Austin said.

Austin said the hospital association does not coordinate spending with other medically related PACs, but it does “reach out to other associations as it pertains to policy issues.”

Thus far other associations have not waded too deep into the politically charged question of Medicaid expansion. But there are signs that some are considering it.

The online health insurance marketplace established as part of the ACA provides subsidies for people with certain income levels to purchase private insurance. But those who would have been covered under Medicaid expansion are not eligible for federal subsidies because they make too little money.

The federal law also proposes to reduce payments to hospitals for treating uninsured patients unable to pay, under the assumption that there would be fewer such patients after the expansion of Medicaid.

Pete Stern, chief executive of the Kansas Independent Pharmacy Service Corp., said that has left gaps in coverage and provider compensation that must be addressed. He said he’s not sure if his group’s PAC will take an official position on Medicaid expansion.

“It’s pretty obvious the hospital association has, and because of the way reimbursements are hanging with the ACA, I think it’s vital,” Stern said. “Even though we don’t have an official position, we do think it deserves a long, objective look for legislators, not only for the sake of hospitals but also for the sake of making sure we’re looking carefully at filling a gap of coverage.”

The independent pharmacy PAC had about $20,700 in cash on hand at the July 24 deadline.

Leaders of two medical associations with more funds said their groups still are forming their legislative agendas, but Medicaid expansion is on their radars.

With $166,700 in cash, the Kansas Medical Society PAC had the most financial clout of the group.

Jerry Slaughter, president of the medical society, said his group has, for more than 20 years, long supported the principle of all Kansans having access to health insurance.

“We believe that just makes sense,” he said.

Slaughter said the state has made strides in doing that for children and the elderly, but the demographic that still needs help is lower-income, working-age adults.

“For a long time we’ve supported the state finding a way to cover that population,” Slaughter said. “That’s been a long-standing policy predating the ACA. What we’ve also said is it needs to be done in a way that’s fiscally sustainable.”

Slaughter said the group is evaluating whether Medicaid expansion fits the bill.

The Kansas Optometric Association PAC ranked second among medical PACs in cash on hand as of July 24 with $124,800.

Gary Robbins, executive director of the optometric association, said the association’s board will discuss Medicaid expansion at an upcoming meeting.

“That’s an issue we’re looking at,” Robbins said. “We have not been opposed to it, we’re just wondering where we’ll get the money, like everyone else.”

In Kansas, Medicaid is now a managed care program known as KanCare that’s operated by three private insurance companies with state contracts. Though some health care providers have complained about reimbursement problems since the switch to managed care last year, Robbins said his group’s members have not had issues.

“With KanCare, we’ve been pleased that we haven’t had as many problems as we anticipated,” he said. “They’ve been willing to listen to our concerns.”

Whether or not the group decides to take a position on expanding Medicaid, Robbins said it won’t make campaign contributions this cycle contingent on a candidate’s position on that issue.

“We will not,” Robbins said, “because we haven’t made it an ongoing issue.”

MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An Institute of Medicine report says Americans often suffer needless discomfort and undergo unwanted and costly care as they die.

The “Dying in America” study released Wednesday was done by a panel of 21 experts. It finds that people repeatedly stress a desire to die at home, free from pain, but often the opposite happens.

The authors blame a medical system ruled by “perverse incentives” for aggressive care, inadequate physician training and too few conversations about end-of-life wishes.

They say patients’ advance directives have not been particularly effective, and urge a series of conversations throughout life about what’s desired in death. They say those talks should begin early, perhaps when people are teenagers.

MAPLE HILL, Kan- A Kansas man was hospitalized in an accident just after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Nissan Versa driven by Kelsey Schimmel, 23, Mapel Hill was westbound on Interstate 70 during an intense rainstorm.

The Nissan and a 2010 Lincoln MKX driven by Jeanette V. Gibson, 78, Alma, slowed and began leaving the roadway and were rear-ended by a 1997 Ford Taurus driven by Michael T. Fagan, 42, Topeka. The Taurus came to rest in the north ditch.

Fagan was transported to Stormont Vail. The KHP reported Schimmel and Gibson were not injured and were properly restrained at the time of the accident. It was unknown if Fagan was wearing a seat belt.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling 221,558 Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Impala sedans because the brake pads can stay partially engaged even when they’re not needed, increasing the risk of a fire.

The recall involves Cadillacs from the 2013-2015 model years and Impalas from the 2014 and 2015 model years. There are 205,309 vehicles affected in the U.S.; the rest of the vehicles are in Canada and elsewhere.

GM says the electronic parking brake arm that applies pressure to the back of the brake pads may not fully retract after use. If the brake pads stay partially engaged with the rotor, excessive brake heat may result in a fire.

GM says it knows of no accidents or injuries related to the defect.

GM will notify owners and repair the vehicles for free.

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new high-tech trading center at Wichita State University is designed to prepare students for careers in the financial, commodities and energy trading markets.

The Wichita Eagle reports that about 75 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for the business school’s Koch Global Trading Center.

Located in a renovated 800-square-foot room, the center features a 60-foot-long digital financial ticker that runs along the ceiling. There also are five flat screen monitors on the walls that display live market data and television channels.

WSU President John Bardo says the center fits with the strategy of preparing graduates to be prepared to immediately enter the workforce.

Koch Industries was the initial donor on the project. Other corporate donors include Allegro Development, a Dallas-based software firm, Cargill Meat Solutions and Murfin Inc.