By Jim McLean
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Feb. 20
The board of the Kansas Health Policy Authority today appointed forty-one Kansans to serve on three stakeholder councils created to advise the authority.
The councils will represent consumers and purchasers of health services as well as providers.
The health policy authority also created an “at-large” council to act as a general sounding board. The at-large group is made up of individuals who were nominated but not selected for one of the three stakeholder councils.
The councils were formed to ensure the KHPA board receives input from those affected by the authority”s policies.
“These councils will truly be a laboratory of ideas and recommendations for action,” said Marcia Nielsen, KHPA executive director.
Nielsen said
140 people either asked to be named to one of the “advisory councils” or nominated someone else.
The 15 members of the Consumer Council are:
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Jane Adams, PhD, Topeka, executive director, Keys for Networking Inc.
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Deanne Bacco, Shawnee, executive director, Kansas Advocates for Better Care
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Theola Cooper, Wichita, retired nurse
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Timothy Davis, Hays, psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker
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Corrie Edwards, Topeka, executive director, Kansas Consumer Health Coalition
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Peggy Johnson, Wichita, executive director ‘ COO, Wichita Medical Research ‘ Educational Foundation
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Shannon Jones, Lenexa, executive director, Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas
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Bruce Linhos, Lawrence, executive director, Children”s Alliance of Kansas
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Rocky Nichols, Topeka, executive director, Disability Rights Center of Kansas Inc.
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Alvin I. Penner, North Newton, retired hospital and health care administrator
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Teresa Schwab, LMSW, Lawrence, executive director, Oral Health Kansas
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Nancy Soeken, Great Bend, consumer of Medicare and Medicaid services
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Dinel Stuckey, Derby, parent of a disabled child
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Maury L. Thompson, Chanute, executive director, Tri-Valley Developmental Services Inc.
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Paul Wilson, Topeka, president, Kansas AARP
The 15 members of the Provider Council are:
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Susan Bumsted, MN, RN, Wichita, associate executive director of rehabilitation services, Breakthrough of Sedgwick County Inc.
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Kara Bell Fiske, Salina, CEO and owner, Windsor Estates-McCall Manor
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Karla Finnell, Topeka, executive director, Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
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Dr. K. Allen A. Greiner, Kansas City, Kan., family physician
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Dr. Kevin C. Hoppock, Wichita, family physician
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David E. Johnson, Lawrence, CEO, Burt Nash Community Mental Health Center Inc.
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Terry Lambert, Emporia, Newman Regional Health
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William K. Mahoney, FACHE, Parsons, president and CEO, Labette County Medical Center
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Dr. Richard Meidinger, Topeka, physician
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Dr. Bert Oettmeier, Stillwell, Dentist
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Randy Peterson, Wichita, senior vice president of regional operations, Via Christi Health System
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Elaine Schwartz, Topeka, executive director, Kansas Public Health Association
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Peter E. Stern, Topeka, executive director, Kansas Independent Pharmacy Service Corp.
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Janet Williams, MSW, PhD, Overland Park, president, communityworks inc.
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Linda J. Wright, Olathe, director, Johnson County Area Agency on Aging
The 11 members of the Purchaser Council are:
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Bill Bruning, Kansas City, Kan., president and CEO, Mid America Coalition on Health
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Brad Clothier, Wichita, senior vice president and COO, Preferred Health Systems
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Andrew C. Corbin, Topeka, vice president of external sales and provider affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas; president, Advance Insurance Co. of Kansas; president, Premier Health Inc.
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Jane Chandler Holt, Topeka, retired vice president and general counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas
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Valerie L. Keller, Olathe, vice president of provider affairs, Coventry Health Care of Kansas
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David Knocke, CHE, Topeka, senior vice president and COO, Stormont-Vail HealthCare
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Gregg LeMaster, Wichita, human resources manager, Boeing
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Jeff Levin, Manhattan, Varney”s Bookstore
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John Naramore, Lawrence, retired president, Kansas Key Press Inc.
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Dr. Marla Tobin, Overland Park, medical director, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest
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Keith Wisdom, Overland Park, CFO, Heartland States Markets
The councils are expected to hold organizational meetings in late March.
Jim McLean is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. He can be reached at
jmclean@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 110.