Health Care

CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric spoke with President-elect Barck Obama before the election. She asked him where he stands on the most pressing issues facing The United States. The following is information collected from those interviews and from Obama's web site. Would provide a tax credit for small businesses to provide insurance for employees Would require larger companies to provide insurance or pay into a national pool to provide options for the uninsured

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius describes health care as "the single biggest disappointment" of this year's legislative session. The governor supported a 21-point plan drafted by the Kansas Health Policy Authority. It would have phased in a $300 million increase in spending on health programs over five years. Legislators instead settled for a far less ambitious program to expand some state programs and revise insurance laws. Legislative leaders have defended that approach as more realistic.

(WICHITA, Kan.) Medical care is one of the biggest expenses people face, and sometimes sacrifice, to save money. The average american family spends about $3,300 a year on insurance premiums alone - if they have health insurance. If someone doesn't have it, one illness could take months to pay off. But you can stay in your budget, and stay healthy. You just need to know a few key things. When you think of health care, the campus of Wichita State University probably doesn't jump to the front of your mind.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, President Barack Obama's nominee for health and human services secretary, believes keeping the status quo on health care is "unacceptable and unsustainable. " This is the message Sebelius prepared for her appearance Tuesday before a Senate committee. In her remarks, Sebelius will pledge to carry out Obama's goal of overhauling the health care system to cover 48-million uninsured Americans. She says inaction on health care "is not an option.

Do you currently have any kind of health insurance coverage? 84% - Yes 16% - No 1% - Not Sure Asked of  500 Adults Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.3% If your coverage is provided through... 69% - Employer 20% - Medicare Or Medicaid 10% - Yourself 1% - Not Sure Asked of 418 who have insurance Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5% Thinking about the health care bill which was passed into law last March, how familiar would you say you are with that law?

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius cultivates an image as a bipartisan problem-solver, but her ambitions on health care issues have often been frustrated by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature. The Democratic governor's record on health care is getting attention because she's viewed in Washington as a leading candidate for Health and Human Services Secretary. Sebelius' backers - and even some opponents - believe any governor's opportunities to make changes are limited, particularly because most states, including Kansas, face recession-related budget problems.

Salina-based Saint Francis Community Services was awarded a $75,000 grant this past year from the Walmart Foundation to expand health care services to children throughout a 53-county area in Central and Western Kansas. The award helped expand Saint Francis' mental health coverage in the area with the addition of a new clinical therapist, as well as provide funding for a traveling Registered Nurse. The health care providers, who travel throughout the area to see families, offer physical, mental, and dental health assessments for children, birth to 18, who live in rural areas and might not have access to care.

A new CBS News poll taken before the health care reform bill passed showed that only 42 percent of Americans understood the legislation. Some say that's understandable, considering the document itself is almost three-thousand pages. It's different for those in the health care profession. Keeping up with the year-long debate has been important to Beverly White. As President of the Center for Health and Wellness, health care reform means changes for her patients, most of whom are uninsured.

There is one thing most people agree on when it comes to the new health care reform law. “It's complicated,” says Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger. Praeger has held meetings around the state, including Wichita, trying to explain the new law, how it affects you and your employer, and the state of Kansas. About 50 people showed up Thursday to learn more about the new law. “We have to be ready. I have to continue to do what it takes to be ready,” says Praeger.

The U.S. Supreme Courthas upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul -- ruling in favor of the requirement that most Americans can be required to have health insurance, or else pay a penalty.     The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to take effect over the next several years, affecting the way countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.     The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid.

The Salina School District has increased the number of hours needed to work to earn insurance from 17.5 to 30, to better comply with the restrictions in the Affordable Health Care act, they say. About 130 employees will lose their coverage, according to human resources manager Steve Dorzweiler. The number includes many part-time employees including para-educators and food service employees. There are certain regulations and penalties in place and the district says that if they don't make changes it could cost them money.

A woman from Pretty Prairie, Kan., who fraudulently received payments from the Kansas Medicaid program to care for her sister with Downs Syndrome has pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charges.   Lupe Adela Mains, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of mail fraud. In her plea, she admitted that from Oct. 1, 2007, to March 31, 2009, she received Medicaid funds for providing supportive home care services to her sister even though she had ceased to provide those services.

The law passed three years ago.  Still, a lot of Kansans have no idea how the so-called "Affordable Care Act" will affect them starting in October. Some will get a subsidy, some will have have to pay a penalty, for others it'll be neither.  It's all based on your 2012 tax returns. "Man, I don't know," Wichita resident Zeb Harrington says.  "I haven't done enough homework on it. " Everybody who gets their taxes done at H and R Block this year is getting a free health care assessment.  It gives them their first look into what health care reform will mean for them.

The emergency department at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center will soon get a face-lift. Hospital administrators announced plans for a $5 million renovation and expansion Thursday. Upgrades to the facility would include 10 new beds, two trauma rooms, private treatment rooms, expanded visitor and guest lounge, as well as other amenities. Kevin Miller, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said the current facility is outdated. "The department is undersized for the patient volumes currently being seen considering today's healthcare design standards," Miller said.

Residents in northeast Wichita now have more access to health care.  The expanded Tyree Health and Dental clinic opened Thursday.  It's located at 1525 N. Lorraine Street. Click here to learn more about the clinic The clinic is part of a ministry through St. Mark United Methodist Church.  The new wing includes a waiting room, chidren's area, medical exam rooms and dental operating rooms. Since treating about 400 patients in 2006 to 6,000 in 2012, the clinic has experience a growing demand.  "The number of people who are uninsured who don't have access to affordable health care has risen over the years, and those numbers have increased consistently," said Pastor Junius Dotson with St. Mark United Methodist Church.

Congress' inability to reach a budget deal will have multiple impacts across the nation's economy. One aspect will hit health care. Cynthia Wilson is an elder care advocate and author of "Who Will Take Care of Mom: A Guide For Family Managed Senior Care. " She sees the possible effect on how health care is delivered to seniors. "Many of them already feel they are not being reimbursed for cost of care treatment as it stands, Wilson said. "That could obviously affect their operations and may cause some to at least not want to take on more Medicare patients.

For the first time in four years, the number of Americans without health insurance decreased. The U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday that 48.6 million people were uninsured in 2011 -- down from 50 million the year before. The percentage of uninsured people also ticked lower, edging down to 15.7% from 16.3%. However, for the fifth consecutive year, the percentage of people covered by government health insurance increased -- up to 32.2% from 31.2% in 2010. People covered by Medicaid increased to 16.5% from 15.8%, and Medicare coverage edged higher to 15.2% from 14.6%.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul -- ruling in favor of the requirement that most Americans can be required to have health insurance, or else pay a penalty.    The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to take effect over the next several years, affecting the way countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.    The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid.

The U.S. Supreme Courthas upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul -- ruling in favor of the requirement that most Americans can be required to have health insurance, or else pay a penalty.     The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to take effect over the next several years, affecting the way countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.     The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld President Barack Obama's health care overhaul . The decision means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will continue to take effect over the next several years. It will impact the way all Americans receive and pay for their medical care and insurance. The court upheld the individual mandate by a 5-4 vote. Chief Justice John Roberts angered many of his fellow conservatives when he sided with the more liberal members of the court.