KHI NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA, March 30
The second of three councils formed to advise the Kansas Health Policy Authority as it develops a plan for major health care reform held its first meeting Friday.
The 15-member “consumer council” is meant to provide perspective and recommendations that reflect the interests of those who use health care services. There also is a “purchaser council” and a “provider council.” The purchaser council held its first meeting Wednesday, and the provider council will hold its first meeting on April 4.
The three councils will meet over the next few months to provide input as the health policy authority works to
develop a plan for major health care reform
to be presented in November to the governor and legislative leaders for possible action in 2008.
“This is Kansas. We expect our change to be incremental, thoughtful, deliberate,” Marcia Nielsen, executive director of the health policy authority, told members during introductory remarks.
The group picked the following meeting dates:
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Friday, May 4
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Friday, June 15
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Friday, July 20
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Friday, August 17
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Friday, Sept. 7
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Friday, Oct 5 (tentative)
Members of the council are:
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Chairman Peggy Johnson of the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation
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Jane Adams, Keys for Networking, Topeka
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Deanne Bacco, Kansas Advocates for Better Care, Shawnee
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Theola Cooper, a retired community health nurse from Wichita
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Dr. Timothy Davis of Hays
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Corrie Edwards, Kansas Health Consumer Coalition, Topeka
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Shannon Jones, Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas, Lenexa
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Bruce Linhos, Childrens Alliance of Kansas, Topeka
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Rocky Nichols, a former legislator and executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Topeka
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Alvin Penner, a retired hospital administrator and consultant from Newton
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Teresa Schwab, Oral Health Kansas, Lawrence
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Nancy Soeken, a mental health consumer who also has worked in hospitals, Great Bend
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Dinell Stuckey, mother of a disabled child and a consultant to school districts, Derby
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Maury Thompson, Tri-Valley Developmental Services, Chanute
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David Wilson, president of AARP Kansas, Overland Park.