Johnson County clearing legal, financial issues with mental health center

Budget officials at the center answer questions

Correction appended Six months ago, the Johnson County Mental Health Center was struggling to meet payroll, and shortly thereafter it was at the heart of a lawsuit filed against the county commissioners. But now, county officials say, the organization is making financial strides, and a district court judge has dismissed the suit. The center today…

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Three Strikes: KC Public Housing Smoking Ban Puts Onus On Tenants

Pack of cigarettes on street with houses in background

Despite the well-known risks, rates of smoking have remained stubbornly high in Missouri – about 25 percent of adults, compared with 18 percent nationally. In Kansas City public housing, the problem is even worse, with smokers comprising 40 percent of all tenants. That high rate is especially disturbing to health advocates because of the high…

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Missouri Likely To Remain The Only State Without Prescription Drug Database

Missouri has a distinction that troubles many involved in public health: It’s the only state in the country that does not monitor prescription drugs. Some say that heightens the problem of prescription drug abuse. Missouri legislators are trying to create a drug monitoring system, but concerns over privacy have stirred opposition. Rising abuse Since the…

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MO governor proposes health assistance for working poor

 Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is proposing that the state use federal health dollars to subsidize health insurance for low-wage workers. Under a program he is calling Missouri Health Works, Nixon is proposing that the state pay a portion of employers’ health insurance costs for their employees that make below 138 percent of the poverty level,…

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Brownback proposes HCBS waiting list reduction

Mike Shields — KHI News Service LENEXA — Gov. Sam Brownback today said he will ask the Kansas Legislature to approve spending an additional $2.6 million in state funds to help reduce the waiting lists for in-home, Medicaid services for the disabled. If approved, an estimated 209 additional people would receive the services. There are…

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