Improved health, security goals of bill signed by Sebelius
Sebelius signs omnibus budget bill into law

More Kansans will have access to health services and the state will make additional investments in homeland security thanks to the budget bill signed today by Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

The bill includes money to begin expanding health coverage for Kansas residents, as well as help for Kansas seniors and individuals with disabilities.

“One of the values that makes Kansas strong is our commitment to our neighbors.  We’re a close-knit state and we recognize the importance of providing assistance to our fellow Kansans.  That’s why we’re starting to address the health care crisis, and why we’re reducing waiting lists for services that help people live happy, healthy lives,” said Sebelius.

The omnibus budget bill includes Sebelius’ recommendations for reductions in waiting lists and improved provider reimbursements in home and community based services for seniors and disabled Kansans.  It funds the bipartisan health care bill Sebelius signed last week and the agreement the state recently reached with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding reforms to state services.

In addition to the health-related initiatives, the bill signed today includes several items designed to improve the safety of Kansans, such a system of regional training centers for Kansas National Guard personnel and local first responders, something Sebelius proposed in mid-April.

“We’ve got some of the nation’s best first responders here in Kansas, but we need to make sure they have the training they need to stay safe and to keep us safe.  These centers will allow them to practice the skills and techniques that would be needed in an emergency,” said Sebelius.

The first center will be built in Salina, with additional centers around Kansas expected to be proposed next year, making it easier for emergency personnel to receive training close to their communities.  The centers will also allow National Guard units to conduct more pre-deployment training in Kansas, reducing the amount of time they are away from home.

Also included in the budget is $17 million from the emergency fund to assist Western Kansas residents recovering from this winter’s storms.  Assistance for Greensburg and surrounding areas is expected to be discussed when the Legislature convenes on May 22.

Sebelius did veto three items in the budget and her veto messages appear below.  SB 357 is the 200th bill signed by Sebelius this session.  She has vetoed four bills and four budget items.

KDHE abortion reporting

Section 65 has been line item vetoed in its entirety.

I believe all Kansans support efforts to reduce the number of abortions, and those efforts are underway through a variety of support services, including expanded access to health care and the promotion of adoption and financial support for caregivers.  All Kansans also want our laws upheld, including laws protecting the privacy of our personal medical records.

The questions required by this proviso are open-ended and request detailed information on a patient’s medical condition.  Rather than collecting sound data that is able to be properly analyzed and protected, this proviso is likely to have little substantive effect, yet opens up patients’ private medical information to public viewing.  This measure runs counter to Kansans’ strong belief in the importance of medical privacy, and therefore I veto this proviso.

Printing of state phone books

Section 8(g) has been line item vetoed in its entirety.

Printing the state employee directory wastes taxpayer dollars and natural resources, which is why it was eliminated as part of my administration’s efficiency efforts five years ago.  Printed directories are out-of-date almost the instant they are published and it makes much more sense to use a searchable electronic directory instead.  In addition to being much easier to keep up-to-date, the online directory saves taxpayers money and conserves paper. 

Operating state government more efficiently is the reason the Legislature passed other provisos that require fewer budget books be printed – another administration savings effort – so it makes little sense to then increase printing costs in another area.  

That’s why I veto this proviso, just as I have done the two prior times the Legislature has sent such provisos to me, and I direct interested parties to visit http://www.da.ks.gov/phonebook/ if they are looking for a phone number.

University of Kansas Medical Center and KU Hospital

Section 26(b) has been line item vetoed in its entirety.

Currently, the University of Kansas Medical Center and the KU Hospital Authority are negotiating an affiliation agreement that incorporates new guiding principles for the working relationship between the two organizations for the next decade.  Those negotiations are proceeding appropriately, yet the proposed proviso attempts to micromanage those discussions, preventing them from thoroughly addressing all of the issues involved, by imposing an artificial deadline for completion of an agreement.

In addition to interfering in what have so far been productive discussions, the proviso prohibits the KU Medical Center from entering into any other affiliations until this agreement with the KU Hospital is reached.  This would have significant unintended consequences since the KU Medical Center currently has roughly 1,000 affiliation agreements that must be renewed regularly.  These affiliation agreements are made with every health provider that hosts a medical resident or a student from the medical, nursing or allied health programs. 

Imposing these restrictions would unnecessarily interfere in ongoing negotiations with the KU Hospital and prevent the KU Medical Center from accomplishing its core mission of educating its students, which is why I veto this proviso.

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