KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Feb. 1
The House Committee on Health and Human Services introduced a resolution Thursday urging officials at KU Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital to consult with the Legislature before affiliating with Missouri hospitals.
And House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, also called on KU officials to slow down and confer with lawmakers before continuing with the affiliation talks.
Earlier in the day, during the Governor”s Summit on Regional Economic Development in Kansas City, Mo., it was announced that letters of intent to affiliate teaching and research had been signed by KU Medical Center, University of Kansas Hospital and St. Luke”s Health System, which is headquartered in Missouri.
The agreements were announced by Irvine O. Hockaday Jr., chairman of the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute.
“Not all the issues have been resolved,” Hockaday told the Kansas City Star. “There are gaps between KU Medical Center and KU Hospital on several issues.”
Hockaday said KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway had assured him resolving those issues would be a top priority.
The Star reported that KU Medical Center spokeswoman Amy Jordan Wooden said two letters of intent to affiliate had been signed
one between KU Medical Center and St. Luke”s, and the other between the medical center and KU Hospital
Wooden said if the letters of intent were approved by the boards of KU Hospital and St. Luke”s then a new master affiliation would be negotiated between KU Medical Center and KU Hospital.
Improved ties among KU Medical Center, KU Hospital and the main campuses of St. Luke”s Health System and Children”s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics have been promoted as a way to help make Kansas City a national leader in the biosciences.
But some key Kansas legislators, including Neufeld, have said they want a legislative role in the proposed affiliations. And news that letters of intent had been signed without legislative review or involvement did not sit well with those lawmakers.
“Based on what is listed in their letter of intent, I don”t see any benefit to Kansas in the partnership with St. Luke”s,” Neufeld said. “I have requested a copy of the letter of intent between KUMC and St. Luke”s Hospital but have yet to receive it. Through the years Kansans have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in KUH and KUMC.
The Kansas Legislature needs to be part of the negotiations to protect those investments. This could undo all of the good that has been done at KUH these last 10 years.”
Neufeld said he was concerned that the letter of intent left several major issues undecided:
* The status of the KU Hospital as the “Primary Academic Clinical, Teaching and Research Hospital” and whether the hospital”s faculty could be assigned to other facilities was unclear.
*
No provisions were included to address financial agreements between the KU Hospital and KU Medical Center.
*
No definition was given for the leadership role that the KU Hospital should have in achieving National Cancer Institute resignation.
*
The number of KU interns who would take part in programs at St. Luke”s was not clearly defined or limited.
“I am not opposed to KUH and KUMC expanding their research programs and facilities but this is not about research, this is about siphoning off interns to St. Luke”s,” Neufeld said. “Pulling a critical mass of students out of the Kansas program to intern at St. Luke”s would reduce not only KU Hospital”s ability to care for its patients but also impact KUMC-Wichita which relies on those interns. I am concerned the agreement will have a negative impact on the primary care network in our state.”
Neufeld”s comments were echoed by Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, chairman of the House Health and Humans Services Committee.
“The Legislature is responsible for approximately $248 million in state funds to the medical center,” Landwehr said. “Our resolution urges those involved with negotiations to partner the center with out-of-state research and medical facilities to wait on committing these Kansas assets until we have had the chance to review their proposal. We should have input and oversight of these Kansas investments.
“It troubles me they appear to be moving forward to commit state assets without consulting the Kansas Legislature
especially knowing we are considering a bill that would require legislative approval of any partnerships between a state university hospital and other entities,” Landwehr said.
The House Appropriations Committee introduced House Bill 2134 on Jan. 19. The bill would require legislative approval before the affiliations could go forward. Landwehr said she planned to hold a hearing on HB 2134 next week.