Other Publications

Joint Position Statement Issued by the Five Kansas Health Foundations

Health Foundations Issue Position Statement on Health Care Reform
The five Kansas health funders—United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Sunflower Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, and Kansas Health Foundation—recently issued a joint position statement on Kansas health care reform. The full statement follows.

Overview
In 2007, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, the Sunflower Foundation, the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, and the REACH Healthcare Foundation together contributed $286,000 to support an economic analysis of six potential health care reform models for the state of Kansas.

The health care reform study was commissioned by the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) to inform its efforts to propose a plan to the Kansas Legislature and Governor for providing affordable health coverage for Kansans.

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, the Sunflower Foundation, the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, and the Kansas Health Foundation support the public and data-driven process undertaken by KHPA to examine various health care models, including the costs and impact on the state, employers, and consumers—and particularly on Kansas’ 300,000 uninsured residents.

Background
Health care reform is a topic of increasing importance to government leaders and citizens. Health care costs have escalated and the numbers of uninsured children and adults continue to grow. The U.S. Census Bureau released a report in September 2007 showing the number of uninsured Americans reached 47 million in 2006, a 2.2 million increase from the previous year.

In Kansas, an estimated 11 percent of residents, or approximately 300,000 children and adults, are without health care coverage. The vast majority of uninsured Kansans (95 percent) live in a household with at least one worker. As is the case nationally, Kansans employed by small businesses, young adults, racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income individuals are at greatest risk of being uninsured.

Statement of Support
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, the Sunflower Foundation, the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the REACH Healthcare Foundation, and the Kansas Health Foundation share a commitment to improving the health of all individuals.

We share citizens’ concerns that too many Kansans are without adequate or affordable health care.

Through our grantmaking experiences, we understand that being uninsured can damage the health and well-being of individuals and families, and negatively impact the overall health and quality of life of communities.

We believe Kansans should have access to factual information on health care coverage options and opportunities to express their needs and interests to government leaders.

We encourage the Legislature, Governor, and Kansas residents to review the factual information available on health care coverage, and adopt the Institute of Medicine principles* in the deliberations and decision making about health care for Kansans.

Submitted November 1, 2007.

*To paraphrase, the Institute of Medicine principles are:

1. Health care coverage should be available for everyone.
2. Health care coverage should be continuous.
3. Health care coverage should be affordable to individuals and families.
4. Health care should be affordable and sustainable for society.
5. Health insurance should enhance the individual’s health and well-being by promoting access to high-quality, equitable, patient-centered care.