In Kansas News
State lawmakers met this week to discuss updates to KanCare coverage.Changes will primarily impact how the state holds Medicaid insurance providers accountable.Christine Osterlund [AH-ster-lund] is the state Medicaid director. She says the state negotiated contracts with insurance companies based on patient issues with appointment transportation.
“What we found is we didn't have a lot of those requirements spelled out where we as KDHE could hold the MCOs accountable for not only providing the transportation, but it allows us to apply liquidated damages if they're making that patient wait for an hour.”
Transportation services must now pick patients up within 15 minutes of their scheduled rides.Services and cost drivers are expected to remain the same.
Other changes to KanCare come from COVID-era policies that expired in June.
The administration of President Donald Trump is ending suicide prevention services designed specifically for LGBTQ youth.The 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline will no longer have counselors who are specially trained to help LQBTQ people.Democratic Representative Sharice Davids is the first openly gay member of Congress from Kansas. She says the program helped young people who often feel especially isolated.
“This isn’t just a phone line, this isn’t politics, this is people (...) It’s people who are trying to survive in a world that tells them that they don’t belong and that they shouldn’t be here.”
The federal agency that operates the 988 lifeline says anyone can still call and receive help.
And in Missouri News
The renowned author, Michael Wallis visited Joplin, Missouri’s History and Mineral Museum on Thursday to talk about his newest book. Belle Starr: The Truth Behind the Wild West Legend - reframes the tainted legacy female outlaw Myra Maibelle Shirley - or Belle Starr. Wallis says he wants to reframe her false criminal legacy
"In general, that this is a story that has never been properly told, and I've done the best I could tell it In honest, straightforward manner."
Wallis’ has written 20 books about history and culture’. He is most known for his books about Route 66 which were the inspiration for the Pixar movie, Cars.
A Missouri House committee held its first meeting on Wednesday over possible property tax reform.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports.
The committee heard four hours of testimony at its first meeting. That included multiple people warning about being too broad with any potential changes to property taxes.
Matt Bowen, Director of the Missouri Ambulance Association, said addressing property taxes will require a “scalpel approach” instead of a broader strategy.
“Our lower population counties, if we arbitrarily and randomly assign caps, these counties are going to suffer drastically, specifically when it comes to those essential services.”
Republican House Speaker Jon Patterson established the committee in June.
The committee will hold five more meetings across the state, including one on Aug. 20, in St. Louis.