SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality accident.
Just after 1am Saturday, Police officers responded to a one car accident at SW 21st and SW Randolph in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
On arrival they found the car had left the roadway for an undetermined reason and struck a fence and a house in the 2700 block of SW 21st.
The driver, who was the sole occupant, was found to be unresponsive. Officers attempted life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived and determined that continuation was futile.
Kansas is operates KanCare, its privatized Medicaid program, under a five-year federal “waiver” that allows three private managed care organizations to administer the program. State officials have asked the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a one-year extension of the waiver, which expires Dec. 31. CREDIT CREATIVE COMMONS-PIXABAY
BY JIM MCLEAN
Kansas officials say there is little chance that more than 400,000 Kansans who depend on the state’s Medicaid program will see their services interrupted.
They say they are confident federal officials will approve a critical waiver request before an end-of-the-year deadline.
“We’ve met all the requirements, so I would expect approval to be coming very soon,” said Michael Randol, director of the division of health care finance at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Kansas operates KanCare, its privatized Medicaid program, under a five-year federal “waiver” that allows three private managed care organizations to administer the program. Through waivers, states can make changes to Medicaid as long as they continue to cover required services and don’t increase federal costs.
State officials have asked the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a one-year extension of the waiver, which expires Dec. 31, so that they can design a new program for implementation in 2019.
Officials in the outgoing Obama administration rejected the waiver request, citing complaints from consumer groups and KanCare consumers about the state’s lax oversight of the managed care organizations.
In May, the Trump administration approved a state plan to correct those problems, prompting expectations that it also would approve the KanCare waiver extension.
Four months later, state officials are still waiting. But they’re not alarmed, Randol said.
“We have had several meetings with CMS and they have indicated that they are positive it will be approved,” Randol said.
In the meantime, work continues on what state officials are calling KanCare 2.0.
KDHE has scheduled a series of conference calls this month with participating health care providers and KanCare consumers to update them on changes in its contracts with the managed care organizations.
The changes will address issues that providers and consumers raised at earlier meetings, Randol said.
“We committed to providers and (KanCare) members that we would have this conversation with them to close the loop and let them know that we heard them,” Randol said.
The proposed changes will be included in a request for proposals that KDHE expects to issue in November, Randol said. The agency will then spend several months evaluating the responses it receives and negotiating new contracts with three to four managed care organizations.
“Our goal is to have contracts awarded by June of next year so if there were to be a change in MCOs that we have ample time to transition members,” he said.
KanCare provides health insurance to approximately 425,000 Kansans, mostly children in low-income families, people with disabilities and elderly Kansans who need nursing home care but can’t afford it.
At the urging of the Kansas Hospital Association and several other advocacy groups, state lawmakers approved legislation during the 2017 session that would have expanded KanCare eligibility to non-disabled adults with annual incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level — $16,643 for an individual and $33,948 for a family of four.
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, (2nd from left) received the World Food Program USA’s annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award. (Photo by WFP USA/PAUL MORIGI)
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus – this week was awarded the World Food Program (WFP) USA’s annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award for his bipartisan leadership to advance U.S. efforts to address global hunger.
“Addressing global hunger is important to providing economic stability worldwide and to strengthening American interests and our national security,” said Sen. Moran. “Access to food provides hope and opportunity; when parents have access to food, they can work to provide a better future for their children. When hunger no longer impedes children’s ability to learn, they can attend and remain in school, leading them down a path to greater economic opportunity. Providing international food aid and finding expedient, affordable and efficient ways to get food grown by U.S. farmers to those who need it most remains a priority.”
“Sen. Dole has long represented the compassionate spirit of Kansans and the farmers who feed the world, and this award was rightly named after him,” continued Sen. Moran. “I’m humbled to receive the World Food Program USA McGovern-Dole Leadership Award.”
“I am proud of Sen. Moran for his interest in world hunger issues,” said Sen. Bob Dole. “As a Kansan, he knows how greatly our state has contributed to combating hunger worldwide. I congratulate him for receiving this award.”
Sen. Moran has championed global hunger relief since the beginning of his Congressional career, first as a member of the House Hunger Caucus and now as co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus. His work on the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Committee has secured crucial funding for international efforts to eradicate global hunger.
About the McGovern-Dole Leadership Award and World Food Program USA
Since 2001, WFP USA has hosted an annual awards ceremony to recognize leaders who have played a critical role in the fight against global hunger. The McGovern-Dole Leadership Award bears the names of Senator Bob Dole and the late Senator George McGovern in recognition of their longstanding commitment to feeding families in need. Their bipartisan collaboration has become the model for continuing U.S. leadership to make sure no child goes hungry.
Past award recipients include U.S. Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern and Jo Ann Emerson, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Howard Buffett, Bill Gates, David Novak, Christina Aguilera, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and Michael Kors. World Food Program USA supports the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme, the leading humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.
TOPEKA – It is with great pride and sincere appreciation that the League of Kansas Municipalities announces Representative Jim Kelly (R-Independence) has been selected to receive the 2017 Intergovernmental Leadership Award. Representative Kelly was selected for the honor for his outstanding leadership and support of issue affecting local governments. Since 1995, the Intergovernmental Award seeks to honor those who support cooperation between the various levels of government. Recipients of this award have demonstrated, in both promise and practice, an understanding that public servants at all levels serve the same citizens and should work together to provide the best service possible.
“Chairman Kelly is everything constituents and colleagues could want in a legislator,” said League of Kansas Municipalities Executive Director Erik Sartorius. “He listens, builds consensus and asks questions to root out issues that might not otherwise surface and be discussed. He wants to hear all views on a topic, and truly wants to make sure legislation avoids unintended consequences whenever possible.”
Representative Kelly is a life-long Kansan who was born and raised in Independence. In January of 2011, he was appointed to fill a Kansas House seat being vacated by Jeff King. Representative Kelly was re-elected in 2012, 2014 and 2016 to the Kansas House of Representatives.
Representative Kelly was chosen in 2017 to chair the House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee (FIPC). He also serves on the House Health and Human Services Committee, Taxation and Insurance committees. As the chair of the FIPC, and a member of the committee for his full tenure in the House, Representative Kelly has extensively researched KPERS and knew changes were needed to address laws surrounding public employees and Working After Retirement legislation. His work, both leading up to and in the 2017 legislative session, led to significant changes in Working After Retirement legislation and allowed the same rules to apply to all levels of public employees at the state, local and school level.
“I wanted to make it easier for municipalities to hire qualified retirees and level the playing field for cities, counties and local government entities,” said Representative Kelly. “I feel that, by discussing the issues ahead of time and working together, we developed good legislation. I especially appreciate how gracious the League and the Kansas Association of Counties have been in helping me understand the issues.”
League Legal Counsel Amanda Stanley worked with Representative Kelly during the 2017 legislative session.
“Representative Kelly went above-and-beyond to identify potential pros and cons to the new rules for Working After Retirement,” said Stanley. “It was clear, through his actions, that his goal was to enact quality legislation that would benefit his constituents.”
During his time in the Legislature, Representative Kelly is proud of his work developing the Rural Opportunity Zone Program and his efforts to expand healthcare initiatives in rural Kansas.
“I consider it a big accomplishment that we were able to expand the Rural Opportunity Zone Program and I see the success of the program in Montgomery County regularly,” said Kelly.
Representative Kelly was also instrumental in passing a compact that allowed Kansas to participate with 12 other states for medical licensure. He also plans to work on healthcare issues in the 2018 session with a specific interest in expanding telehealth and payment parity in rural areas of Kansas.
“I live in a community where our local hospital closed,” said Kelly. “I am interested in looking for opportunities to ensure access to healthcare for Kansans, especially those in rural and small communities.”
Although Representative Kelly now serves the Montgomery County community in the Kansas Legislature, he spent six years in local government on the Independence City Commission and served eight years on the Independence School Board.
Outside of the legislature, Representative Kelly has worked in the banking industry since 1969. He has been active in economic development in his community and has worked throughout the communities of Coffeyville, Independence and Cherryvale.
“I have been very fortunate, and honored, to be able to serve my home community and county in various ways for over 40 years,” said Kelly. “Now, as a member of the legislature, I am truly blessed to represent everyone in District 11. I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to get to know and work with many other legislators, local and statewide leaders and many organizations, like the League, that are all truly striving daily to do their best for the State of Kansas and everyone we all represent.”
Representative Kelly is married to Eloise Meyer-Kelly and has one daughter, Beth. He holds degrees from Independence Community College and Emporia State University. Representative Kelly also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on burglary charges.
Just after 3a.m. Thursday, the desk clerk at the Country Inn and Suites, 2760 South 9th in Salina received a call from someone claiming to have passed by on the interstate and saw a person with a flashlight out by the hotel’s shed, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.
The desk clerk told police he had to take out the trash anyway, so he left the desk for a minute to investigate.
While walking back to the desk, the clerk said he saw a white passenger car speed off and he knew instantly that the phone report was a distraction. While the clerk was outside a suspect stole $360 from the cash register.
Capt. Forrester said that an officer in the area saw a white Honda Accord near the Casey’s on the corner of Ninth and Magnolia. The officer determined that the driver did not have a valid license and made a traffic stop.
The officer found evidence of the burglary during the stop. Police recovered around $320, saying that Tanner Ireland purchased snacks and gas before authorities arrived.
A hotel supervisor informed police that Ireland was fired from the hotel a few weeks prior to the incident. Police booked him for one count of aggravated burglary and theft.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating over a dozen suspects on sex trafficking charges.
On Thursday several Wichita police units worked together to focus on those individuals attempting to purchase sexual relations in the Broadway corridor in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Vice Detectives, the Wichita Broadway Corridor Team, Patrol South Community Policing Officers, Patrol North and South officers participated in the investigation. They arrested 13 men attempting to buy sexual relations, according to Davidson.
Police arrested 15 in similar operation in early September.
Davidson said the message is simple, “police will continue to conduct these assignments until no one is arrested. Do not come to the Broadway corridor to engage in this type of behavior or you may end up talking with a police officer.”
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas-based operator of addiction treatment centers will pay $25,000 to settle a complaint that it treated its clients with HIV or AIDs differently than other patients.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall announced Friday the policies of Valley Hope Association in Norton violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The company was accused of requiring people with HIV or AIDS to stay in separate rooms during residential treatment unless they revealed their status to potential roommates. The clients also were not allowed to participate in some work activities.
Valley Hope Association operates 16 addiction treatment centers in seven states.
The company will be required to adopt a non-discrimination policy and to provide mandatory annual training to its employees and contractors.
RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen for possible sexting charges.
According to the police, they filed a report for aggravated unlawful transmission of a visual depiction of a child.
On Thursday a 13-year-old boy in Manhattan allegedly sent pictures of himself to a 10-year-old girl, according the Riley County Police incident report.
Authorities did not release details on the relationship between the children or their names.
Due to the nature of the crime reported, police released no additional early Friday.
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A man connected to two Kansas City-area women who disappeared about 10 years apart has been charged with murder in their deaths.
Kylr Yust was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of abandoning a corpse in the deaths of 17-year-old Kara Kopetsky of Belton and 21-year-old Jessica Runions of Raymore. He is being held on $1 million bond.
Yust had long been a suspect in the two deaths. Runions was seen leaving a gathering with Yust before she disappeared in September 2016.
Runions -courtesy photo
Kopetsky had filed a protection order against Yust in April 2007, a month before she went missing after walking out of Belton High School.
The remains of Kopetsky and Runions were found in April in a rural area near Belton.
HARVEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities offered an explanation on why they stopped a school bus Thursday in Newton.
On Thursday afternoon, police responded to report of a student with a gun on a school bus in Newton, according to a social media report.
Officers “responded rapidly to ensure the safety of children on board” and stopped the bus in the 300 block of East 1st Street.
As they arrived, officers learned the gun was a toy and immediately began “de-escalating the situation.”
The young student who brought the toy onto the bus was given a ride to the nearby district office where the child’s mother could respond to take the child home.
Police reminded that “While this may have been a freighting situation for everyone on board the bus, we take threats to the safety of our community’s children seriously and will respond in a rapid and professional manner.”
Police released no additional details. The school did not release information on the incident.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is allowing more employers to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women for religious and moral reasons.
The administration has issued a long-expected revision to Obama-era rules. The rules require most companies to provide birth control as preventive care for women, at no additional cost. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive services are supposed to be free of charge to employees and their dependents.
The Trump administration’s revision issued Friday expands a religious exemption that previously applied to houses of worship, religiously affiliated nonprofit groups, and closely-held private companies.
The share of women employees paying their own money for birth control pills has plunged to under 4 percent, from 21 percent, since contraception became a covered preventive health benefit, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Court records show a slain Kansas psychiatrist was stabbed about 165 times outside his clinic in Wichita last month.
The arrest affidavit for the suspect, 21-year-old Umar Dutt, was released Thursday. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 13 death of Achutha Reddy at his Holistic Psychiatry Services clinic.
The affidavit says a clinic employee reported hearing Reddy calling for help and then seeing Dutt stabbing the psychiatrist. The employee was able to briefly separate the two.
The affidavit says Reddy also suffered “blunt force trauma” and may have been run over by a vehicle.
Dutt was a patient of Reddy’s. Investigators haven’t released a possible motive.
Dutt is jailed on a $1 million bond. His attorney tells The Wichita Eagle “more evidence will be coming to light.”
ATCHISON COUNTY — A motorist driving on four flat tires led police on a two-hour pursuit in parts of Kansas and Missouri before his arrest.
The chase began early Thursday in northeast Kansas’ Atchison County when officers attempted to stop a pickup truck driven by 34-year-old Shane Gage on a warrant with several felony violations.
Police say Gage later drove into neighboring Missouri, through St. Joseph and toward Savannah. St. Joseph police laid a spike strip that blew out all four tires of the suspect’s vehicle.
Police say the pursuit ended in Savannah, Missouri, where the vehicle veered into a ditch. Officers found drugs and three loaded weapons in the vehicle.
Gage was taken to a hospital because officers believe he ingested several grams of methamphetamine prior to the arrest. Police say Gage will be jailed after his hospital evaluation. He has previous convictions for Aggravated Battery and Involuntary Manslaughter, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality accident.
