Rural Kansas communities are critical to the future of our state. We know that for our communities to thrive, rural Kansans require core services to raise a family — access to early childhood services, high quality education and health care. Our two organizations — Thrive Kansas and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund — are based in rural communities and are invested in improving the health and future of all Kansans. We are committed to improving the health of rural communities and support innovative policies that sustain health care and encourage the development of vitally important services. To better understand rural Kansans’ concerns and ideas, late last year we hosted community conversations on the future of rural health care and Medicaid expansion in Atchison, Dodge City, Colby, Hays and Pittsburg.  The events drew community members, local and state leaders, businesses and health care providers. Five key topics — Medicaid expansion, behavioral health, workforce, child care and financial pressure on providers — were raised in each community. Here are our takeaways. The top issue raised was Medicaid expansion. Meeting attendees expressed frustration that many of their working neighbors are uninsured. They recognized that one reason for this is because Kansas has not expanded Medicaid and that by not participating in this program, the state is contributing to higher uninsured rates in Kansas’ rural counties. The biggest factor driving our high uninsured rates is the strict limits on who can qualify for Medicaid, the state’s health program for low-income families. For example, an uninsured single parent with two children must earn less than $4.75 an hour to qualify for Medicaid. If you don’t have children you cannot qualify at all, no matter how little you make. Expanding Medicaid would increase eligibility for health care from $9,446 to $34,307 yearly income for a family of three and help provide access to health coverage to an estimated 150,000 residents. We heard stories about how these strict income limits prevent hardworking rural Kansans from getting care — such as a farmer who could not afford to treat his diabetes and lost his foot. We heard about others who put off care, resulting in missed cancer diagnoses that had devastating impacts. At each meeting, attendees understood that expanding Medicaid meant their uninsured neighbors, as well as tens of thousands of Kansans, would be able to go to a doctor when they’re sick and pay for prescription drugs. Rural Kansans know that we all benefit when our neighbors can get the care they need. Community members, business owners and health care providers who attended these conversations quickly highlighted that the growing uninsured rate in rural Kansas was not just negatively impacting their neighbors’ health but was negatively affecting the bottom lines of health care providers, putting them at financial risk. Kansans know that more uninsured Kansans means more unpaid bills for providers. When patients can’t pay for care, it is categorized as uncompensated care. When providers have uncompensated care, it challenges their ability to remain financially viable and also means that we all — individuals, families, businesses — end up paying more for health care. In rural Kansas, it also means increased local taxes. With increasing rates of uninsured residents and high levels of uncompensated care, Kansas has 59 financially vulnerable hospitals, more than any other state. In Kansas, 44% of the uncompensated care at rural critical access hospitals could be eliminated if we expanded Medicaid.
Source: The Iola Register

Heeding the warning of “start small,” Iola Council members agreed to a phased approach to recycling Monday evening. Members discussed the potential of establishing a city-run recycling utility, agreeing it would be best to start small and gradually expand the initiative. The ultimate vision includes weekly residential curb-side pick-up of recycling materials and would require a three-person crew for pick-up; two-person crew for sorting and baling. A monthly fee of $15 would be necessary to pay for the additional service. A substantial portion of the proposed initial costs would be dedicated to the construction of a building modeled after Nemaha County’s recycling center. The projected initial infrastructure investment of $585,000 would go towards the sorting center, a truck, and baler. The utility would have a projected annual cost of nearly $384,000. Council member Jon Wells expressed reservations about the financial feasibility of the project, citing the city’s current inability to fund the 54 Highway rebuild. He suggested the council explore grant opportunities before committing to a significant initial investment. “There’s a lot more needs elsewhere in this community that we could spend that money on,” said Wells. “It could go towards two or three splash pads, essentially. I think we could do better for the community with that money.” City Administrator Matt Rehder noted there currently isn’t a location where the material would go after baling, with the exception of cardboard and No. 9 plastics which would go to the Allen County landfill. City administration recommended the council not establish the new utility but, if they do, recommended a year-long ramp up to establish working capital and to try to find a home for material. The first step in this ramp-up would be to amend the solid waste fee to $30 per month, or add a line item to the monthly utility fee for recycling at $15. Council member Joelle Shallah expressed concern about the potential impact on residents, particularly in terms of utility bill increases. “I cannot even, in my own conscience, think to raise somebody’s utility bill $200 a year,” she said. She advocated for a county-led effort with city collaboration and proposed exploring drop-off containers as a starting point. Shallah emphasized the importance of researching and assessing the community’s response before moving forward. “All these other recycling facilities in surrounding communities are under water,” she added. “They’re struggling. Fredonia is another one — they had a program and they shut it down.” Mayor Steve French provided insights into the county’s recycling efforts, highlighting the cautious approach they have adopted, starting with small-scale initiatives at the landfill.
Source: The Iola Register