Jim McLean, Kansas News Service
Stories by Jim McLean, Kansas News Service
Kansas Reportedly Landing $4 Billion Panasonic Factory That Will Make Batteries for Tesla
A Japanese news agency is reporting that Panasonic chose to make batteries for Tesla in Kansas because of the state's tax rates and taxpayer incentives.
A Glut of Cash and Issues from Tax Cuts to Medical Marijuana Await Kansas Lawmakers
Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly wants to use billions in surplus cash to cut taxes. But Republican leaders appear reluctant to go along in an election year.
Democrats Want To Face Kobach In Senate Race, But A GOP Group Is Spending Millions To Stop Him
TOPEKA, Kansas — Kris Kobach, a lightning rod throughout his political career, finds himself at the center of a Republican primary battle for the U.S. Senate. That includes independent groups spending millions on ads for and against him. One of those efforts comes from Democrats, who think a primary win for Kobach gives their party the…
Kansas Highway Plan Seeks Better Roads Without Hiking Taxes
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s transportation plan seeks to restore the state's roads without raising taxes.
New Attention To Struggles Of Kansas Hospitals Fuels Medicaid Expansion Effort
Renewed attention to the financial struggles of several Kansas hospitals is giving supporters of Medicaid expansion a potentially powerful argument as they work to build a veto-proof majority for a new bill. “The conversation became much more real with the renewed talk about hospital closures,” said David Jordan, director of the Alliance for a Healthy…
Kansas Woman Says Health Reform Law Helped Her Launch Business
A Lawrence businesswoman has become something of a poster child for the Affordable Care Act. Meg Heriford, owner of the Ladybird Diner, didn’t seek the spotlight but has been thrust into the role by former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius, who also served two terms as Kansas governor, still has a…
Lawsuit Alleges Medicare Fraud At Lawrence Memorial Hospital
A former emergency room nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital has filed a federal “whistleblower” lawsuit alleging that the hospital falsified patient records to obtain higher Medicare and Medicaid payments. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. on behalf of Megen Duffy alleges that top hospital officials knew about the fraud, which…
Kansas Officials Cancel Limits On ATM Welfare Withdrawals
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration will not follow through on plans to limit welfare recipients to cash withdrawals of $25 per day. Phyllis Gilmore, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said Tuesday that federal officials objected to the limit, saying that it would prevent needy families from having “adequate access to their…
Kansas Groups Gear Up For Yet Another Run At Medicaid Expansion
Editor’s note: This is the second of two stories looking at Medicaid expansion in Missouri and Kansas. Today’s story looks at the failure to expand Medicaid in Kansas. Wednesday’s story looked at the failure to expand Medicaid in Missouri. Tonight, Thursday, at 7:25 p.m., KCPT Channel 19 will air a video tied to the stories….
The changing dynamics of Kansans and coverage
Prior to the Affordable Care Act, it would have been virtually impossible for Calderwood to purchase affordable coverage because of her pre-existing health problems. Denying coverage to sick people was one of the ways that insurance companies managed their risk. Not surprisingly, a significant number of Kansans who purchased Obamacare coverage in the initial enrollment...