Category Archives: Health and Social Services

Natalie NelsonPrincipal Research AnalystNatalie.Nelson@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4418 Lindsay ArcherResearch AnalystLindsay.Archer@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4440 Federal Mandates In September 2021, President Biden released his “Path Out of the Pandemic COVID-19 Action Plan,” which set forth plans to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates for certain groups. An overview of these actions, and subsequent state responses, follows. Private Employer Mandate On November 5, 2021, the OccupationalContinue reading “COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates”

Leighann ThoneResearch AnalystLeighann.Thone@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4181 Lindsay ArcherResearch AnalystLindsay.Archer@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4440 Fentanyl According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid medication developed for pain management and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pain relief and anesthetic uses. First developed in 1959, it is approximately 100 times more potent than morphineContinue reading “Fentanyl Testing Strips”

Megan LeopoldSenior Fiscal AnalystMegan.Leopold@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4419 Elizabeth CohnSenior Research AnalystElizabeth.Cohn@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4382 The Kansas Medicaid program, KanCare, is a jointly funded state and federal government program that provides health coverage to qualifying individuals. States can choose how to administer their own Medicaid program within federal guidelines, creating programs that vary from state to state. To allow this flexibility, theContinue reading “KanCare: Waivers and MCO Contracts”

Dayton LaMunyonFiscal AnalystDayton.LaMunyon@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4405 Iraida OrrPrincipal Research AnalystIraida.Orr@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4408 Psychiatric Hospital Treatment In Kansas, the highest level of care for adults experiencing severe mental illness is provided in psychiatric hospitals. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) oversees state-run psychiatric hospitals and licenses private psychiatric hospitals. Pursuant to the 1990 Mental Health Reform Act, theContinue reading “Mental Health Beds in Kansas for Adults”

Dayton LaMunyonFiscal AnalystDayton.LaMunyon@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4405 Iraida OrrPrincipal Research AnalystIraida.Orr@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4408 The first place for a youth to receive mental health treatment in Kansas is in a community mental health center. If the child needs more intensive care than can be provided safely and effectively in the community, the child may be treated in one of the following placements.Continue reading “Mental Health Beds in Kansas for Youth”

Elizabeth CohnSenior Research AnalystElizabeth.Cohn@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4382 Iraida OrrPrincipal Research AnalystIraida.Orr@klrd.ks.gov785-296-4408 Description, Reporting, and Case Numbers Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease, specifically an orthopoxvirus (1), and is in the smallpox virus family. The symptoms of mpox are primarily flu-like (such as fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, chills, and exhaustion). In addition, a rashContinue reading “Monkeypox (Mpox)”