Kansas Health Reform Bill Includes Funding for Physician Training Program
Kansas lawmakers on Saturday approved a health care reform package that seeks to expand health care access, the Wichita Eagle reports.
The bill would:
- Expand SCHIP eligibility;
- Require insurance companies to offer more health plans that can be paid for on a pre-tax basis;
- Direct more money toward programs for low-income pregnant women and safety net clinics; and
- Extend the amount of time individuals are eligible to receive COBRA insurance in between jobs.
The bill did not appropriate the $6 million required to fund those provisions, and as a result, such funding must be included in the wrap-up budget, according to the Eagle.
The package does include $1.5 million to fund a program that offers specialized training to area physicians at the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education, a consortium that coordinates the residency programs in Wichita and Salina for the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita (Koranda/Klepper, Wichita Eagle, 5/4). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
