By ANDY MARSO

Supporters of expanding Medicaid in Kansas hope the story of how the conservative governor of another “red state” found a way to move forward will motivate Gov. Sam Brownback and Republican legislative leaders to do the same here.

They invited a delegation of hospital officials from Indiana to come and talk about how they worked with Republican Gov. Mike Pence and large GOP majorities in the Indiana Legislature to pass a conservative plan that expanded health coverage to more than 350,000 low-income residents of the Hoosier state but required them to share in the costs.

“There is no more fervent anti-Obamacare person than Governor Pence,” Doug Leonard, president of the Indiana Hospital Association, said Tuesday at a Wichita forum. Even so, Leonard said, Pence pushed an expansion plan through the Legislature but did it “the way he thought was right for Indiana.”

Looking back, Georgiana Reynal, director of advocacy and government relations for Indiana’s St. Vincent health system, said, “We heard a million times (from Pence): ‘I’m not interested in expanding Medicaid the way it is; it’s a broken system. But I’m interested in expanding the Indiana way.’”

The plan that Pence crafted, which federal officials approved in January, uses Medicaid dollars to purchase high-deductible health insurance plans for adults making up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level, annually $11,770 for individuals and $24,250 for a family of four.

The state then contributes money to a Personal Wellness and Responsibility, or POWER, account that beneficiaries can use to cover out-of-pocket costs. Unlike traditional Medicaid recipients, Indiana beneficiaries must pay a portion of their premiums.

Brownback and large conservative Republican majorities in the Kansas House and Senate have staunchly resisted expansion for the past three years. But struggling rural hospitals and the story of how Indiana found a way forward on the issue spurred a panel of legislators to talk Tuesday about what it might take for Kansas to pass its own alternative plan.

Senate Vice President Jeff King, a Republican whose southeast Kansas district saw a key hospital close this year, said it’s time for a serious discussion about the specifics of a Kansas plan.

“Saying ‘no’ to everything has to stop being a viable political option because there are real lives that are being affected,” King said.

‘Who’s who of Kansas health care’

King was one of four legislators who participated on a panel at the forum sponsored by a coalition of 14 Medicaid expansion supporters that included hospitals and health foundations.

A crowd gathered early in the lobby of the Kansas Leadership Center before filing into the auditorium and filling every chair. The audience included legislators, advocates for people with disabilities and health organization lobbyists.

“This is a who’s who of Kansas health care,” said Ira Stamm, a Topeka psychologist and mental health advocate.

After the Indiana officials made a presentation, King said he was impressed with that state’s expansion plan. He said a Kansas plan would have to include similar cost-sharing elements to have a chance of passing.

In addition, King said the Kansas budget crisis means an expansion plan could pass only if it did not require money from the state general fund — something the Indiana officials said they were also able to accomplish.

Rep. Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, said legislators should work within Brownback’s Medicaid expansion guidelines.

Those include eliminating waiting lists for home and-community-based support services for Kansans with disabilities. “That waiting list needs to be taken care of before he moves on,” Hawkins said.

Guidelines as barriers?

During a question-and-answer session, Joe O’Rourke, president and CEO of New Beginnings Enterprise in Neodesha, asked if Brownback’s guidelines, which would substantially increase the cost of expansion, were meant to preempt discussion of the issue.

Hawkins said he believed the governor was sincere in his belief that the state should use its “limited resources” to serve those with disabilities before “able-bodied” Kansans.

But after the event O’Rourke did not seem convinced. “Some of the things he’s asking for — they’ve been trying to deal with the waiting lists for years,” said O’Rourke, whose organization serves Kansans with developmental disabilities. “It’s just barriers. It’s just barriers he’s set up to make sure it will never be achieved.” John Monroe, a constituent services representative for

Brownback, attended the event. Asked afterward whether he could name any disability advocacy groups that support elimination of the waiting lists as a condition of expansion,

Monroe said, “I’m not sure. I can’t speak to that.” Tim Wood, who formerly ran a campaign dedicated to eliminating the lists for the Disability Rights Center, said no disability groups had adopted that position.

“Never,” Wood said. “No one has ever said that.” Wood said the Kansas Hospital Association was right in saying that the support services covered under the Medicaid waivers are different than the medical coverage provided by expansion.

He also said that the 150,000 Kansans who would gain medical coverage through Medicaid expansion would not be all “able-bodied” individuals. Some would be Kansans with disabilities who weren’t previously eligible for Medicaid.

Rural hospital concerns

Rep. Susan Concannon, a Republican from Beloit who attended the discussion as an audience member, said she believes the Kansas Hospital Association could put forth a plan that would satisfy all the conditions voiced Tuesday except for the waiting list elimination.

However, Sen. Michael O’Donnell, a Republican from Wichita who sat on the panel, said many legislators from rural areas are worried about their hospitals closing. But he said they also are concerned about expending political capital voting for Medicaid expansion only to see hospitals close for other reasons.

Rep. Jim Ward, the panel’s lone Democrat, said no plan could guarantee that there would be no future hospital closings. He also said his party would be open to adopting a red state model for expansion. “I believe anything that expands access to affordable health insurance would be supported by the Democratic caucus,” Ward said.

King said he’s ready to start discussing the nitty-gritty policy pieces. But he said unlike last year, expansion advocates need to propose a detailed plan. “I don’t think this is something we can discuss entirely in the abstract,” he said. Tom Bell, president and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association, said such a plan is forthcoming.

“What you’re going to see this year is something a little more specific,” Bell said. “I agree with Senator King. We need to have a plan that folks can react to knowing that if something moves, where we end up is not going to be where we started.” Brownback privatized the Kansas Medicaid program in 2013.

Now called KanCare, the nearly $3 billion program is administered by three managed care organizations. KanCare now covers about 425,000 low-income children and families, plus disabled and low-income elderly adults.

Adults with dependent children are eligible for KanCare coverage only if they have incomes below 33 percent of the federal poverty level, annually $7,870 for a family of four. Non-disabled adults without children aren’t eligible regardless of income.

Expansion would extend KanCare coverage to non-disabled, childless adults with incomes up to 138 percent of poverty, annually $16,105 for an individual and $32,913 for a family of four.

Andy Marso is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The crowd that flooded downtown Kansas City for a Royals’ World Series championship celebration has shattered expectations.

 

What a day for Kansas City. #Crowned pic.twitter.com/NwmKNnPrJQ

— Royals (@Royals) November 3, 2015

City officials on Wednesday increased estimates of the size of the crowd at Tuesday’s rally and parade to 800,000. That’s about four times the number of people officials had expected.

Kansas City has a population of about 470,000, with a metropolitan area of about 2 million.

City spokesman Chris Hernandez called the festivities the largest in the history of Missouri.

Downtown businesses turned their conference rooms into parade-viewing areas. Hundreds of patients at a downtown hospital canceled appointments. And many schools closed for the day.

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Pam Whiting says “not a lot of work got done,” although everyone was in a “fabulous mood.”

MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted for a resolution calling for scrapping new federal rules to protect smaller streams, tributaries and wetlands from development and pollution.

Senators voted 53-44 in favor of a “resolution of disapproval,” a measure that would void the regulations if also passed by the House and signed by the president. The White House has said it would veto the resolution.

A win for America’s farmers and ranchers: #Ag Cmite Member @SenJoniErnst‘s #WOTUS joint resolution passes Senate on 53-44 vote. #bogusWOTUS

— Sen. Ag Republicans (@SenateAgGOP) November 4, 2015

 

Senate passes @joniernst’s resolution to protect American farmers and ranchers from a water power grab. #WOTUS @BarackObama — Cong. Tim Huelskamp (@CongHuelskamp) November 4, 2015

 

The Obama administration says the rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May would safeguard drinking water for 117 million Americans. Republicans and some rural Democrats say the rules would give federal regulators unprecedented control of small bodies of water on private land.

Federal courts have already put the regulations on hold as they consider a number of lawsuits.

FREDONIA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have identified three people who were found fatally shot outside a southeast Kansas home.

Wilson County Sheriff Pete Figgins says deputies found a married couple and the woman’s son dead Monday night near Fredonia. The discovery was made after another relative asked the deputies to check on their welfare.

Figgins identified the people killed as Eva and Russell Blevins, who were both 43, and 19-year-old Jacob Traylor. Figgins says deputies are not looking for any suspects.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation, and autopsies have been completed. Figgins says he can’t immediately provide any details about the identity of the shooter pending further analysis of forensic evidence.

Fredonia is a town of about 2,400 residents located about 150 miles southwest of Kansas City.

SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating an alleged sex crime.

Police say Zachary Gordon, 21, Salina, is accused of holding a female acquaintance in her 20’s against her will at a north Salina home.

He allegedly hit, raped and sodomized her, according to police.

The woman was taken to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of her injuries.

Police were notified of the incident after the woman contacted another person.

Gordon was taken into custody on Tuesday morning.

DETROIT (AP) — Volkswagen is recalling nearly 92,000 cars in the U.S. to fix mechanical problems that can knock out the power-assisted brakes.

The recall includes the Beetle, Golf, Jetta and Passat models from 2015 and 2016. The cars have 1.8-liter and 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines.

The German automaker says a part in the camshaft can shear off, causing loss of vacuum in the power brakes. That can lengthen stopping distance and possibly cause a crash. The engines also will go into a reduced power mode to avoid further damage.

VW discovered the problem after getting reports of camshaft failures. A fix is expected by the end of March.

Until then, VW tells owners to keep driving the cars. They should report trouble to dealers. It’s unclear if loaner cars are available.

Honda is recalling over 145,000 motorcycles in the U.S. to fix dragging rear brakes that can cause a fire or crash.

Documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say it’s the third recall for some of the motorcycles.

The recall covers the GL1800 model from 2001 through 2010 and 2012 through 2015. Also affected are the GL1800A from 2001 through 2005 and the GL1800B from 2013 through 2015.

Honda says the brakes can drag after being released by the rider. In 2014 the company had reports of eight small fires.

Dealers will replace two brake master cylinders. No timetable has been set for the recall. It was unclear if Honda would offer loaner motorcycles.

Some of the bikes were recalled in 2011 and 2014 for the same problem.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. attorney’s office says a disruptive passenger who forced the diversion of an American Airlines flight will face federal charges.

Spokesman Jim Cross says the passenger will be charged Wednesday, but he provided no details on the charge or the nature of the disruption.

American Airlines says Flight 622 from Phoenix to New York was sent to Wichita, Kansas, on Tuesday evening because of the unruly passenger. The airline said in an email Wednesday that law enforcement met the flight and took the passenger into custody. The airline did not identify the passenger.

An airport police spokeswoman at Eisenhower National Airport said the passenger was taken to the Sedgwick County jail.

The flight left Wichita a few hours later and landed in New York shortly before midnight Tuesday.

———–

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — American Airlines says a flight from Phoenix to New York was diverted to Wichita after a passenger became disruptive.

American Airlines says Flight 622 from Phoenix to New York was sent to Wichita on Tuesday evening because of the unruly passenger. The airline said in an email Wednesday that law enforcement met the flight and took the passenger into custody.

The airline did not provide details about the nature of the disruption nor identify the passenger.

Wichita airport police Lt. Lloyd Youel says the FBI interviewed the passenger before he was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on a “related charge.” He would not describe the charge or the passenger’s identity.

The flight left Wichita a few hours later and landed in New York shortly before midnight Tuesday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Target plans to close 13 additional stores nationwide. They closed all of the stores in Canada this year.

The Minneapolis-based retailer says a decision to close a store usually follows several years of decreasing profitability. The retail giant plans to close the stores on Jan. 30, 2016.  The store at 301 S. Towne East Mall Drive in Wichita recently closed.

See the complete list of store closures here.

Target was hurt by a massive credit-card breach before Christmas 2013 that sent shoppers temporarily fleeing. The company also botched a major expansion into Canada and pulled the plug on that earlier this year.

Layoffs in 2015 included 2,500 jobs, or about one-fifth of the workers in the company’s corporate offices in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A small plane that made an emergency landing along an Arkansas highway was piloted by a former CEO at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

 

 

Bill Simon, who led the company’s U.S. operations from 2010 to 2014, told The Associated Press he unfurled a parachute that brought the plane down Tuesday along Arkansas 16 outside Fayetteville High School.

Simon says he suffered a burn as his air bag deployed.

Police say all three men aboard the plane were taken to a hospital, as was a woman whose truck was hit by the falling plane. Police say only minor injuries were reported.

Simon was flying to Waco, Texas, where he teaches at Baylor University. He says he decided to land the plane after its oil system failed, and relied on his training to bring the plane down relatively safely.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents is soliciting comments from state universities about a proposal to allow people to have concealed guns on their campuses but not carry the weapons openly.

The Lawrence Journal World reports that a regents committee has drafted a proposed policy and the full board hopes to vote on it in December.

A 2013 state law says adults 21 and older who can carry concealed guns can bring them into public buildings unless those buildings have security measures such as metal detectors. The law allowed universities to exempt themselves until July 2017.

Under the proposed policy, each university must have a place for people to securely store their weapons. Each campus also must identify the buildings in which concealed weapons won’t be allowed.

WICHITA- A Kansas man died in an accident just before 9p.m. on Tuesday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Kia Rio driven by David C. Bean, Jr. , 29, was northbound on Interstate135 at Harry.

The vehicle swerved to the right and struck a parked semi on the shoulder.

Bean was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger in the Kia Eli H. Johnson, 23, Wichita was transported to Wesley Medical Center

The semi driver from Iowa was sitting in the drivers seat at the time of the incident but the vehicle was shut off and disabled on the shoulder. He was not injured.

The occupants of the Kia were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after hitting a just-married groom at an IHOP last August.

District Attorney Marc Bennett says 23-year-old Oliver Bradwell was sentenced Oct. 21 to 45 months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery in July.

The Wichita Eagle reports  that newly married Omar Galaviz-Hernandez and his wife, whose name was not provided, were eating at an east-side IHOP in their wedding clothes.

A news release from Bennett says Bradwell hit Galaviz-Hernandez after Galaviz-Hernandez had told him to “show some respect” when Bradwell “made a derogatory comment toward” the bride. Galaviz-Hernandez fell and hit his head, knocking him unconscious.

Bradwell was ordered to pay more than $12,600 in restitution as part of 36 months of post-release supervision.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A legislative study committee recommends that Kansas legislators hunt for state funds to boost the pay of corrections officers in state prisons.

The proposal Tuesday from the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight will go to the House and Senate budget committees once the full Legislature reconvenes in January.

The committee made the recommendation after Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts said turnover at prisons and juvenile correctional facilities is a serious problem.

Roberts said pay is the main issue, with officers at state prisons starting at $13.61 an hour. Each 1 percent increase in pay would cost nearly $1 million a year.

Committee Chairman and Republican state Rep. John Rubin of Shawnee said lawmakers take the money from elsewhere in the budget and suggested trimming aid to public schools.