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Healthcare and Insurance

The Doctor Is . . . On

When the dust settles from the public-health storm of 2020, the one aspect of health care that could produce the most significant, lasting change for providers, insurers, employers and patients might well be advances in telemedicine. Across the nation—the developed… more

With Election Over, the Implications for Health Care

The global pandemic and its associated economic downturn, combined with the most visible civil rights and equality discussions since the days of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., knocked health care from the throne as voters’ most important issue. However, health… more

Coping with COVID: Two largest medical centers in the region show mixed COVID-19 patient numbers

The past weekend ended on a positive note for healthcare workers at The University of Kansas Health System, though Tuesday numbers added to the COVID-19 patient count. During a Monday COVID-19 media briefing, the hospital officials announced that from Friday… more

Coping with COVID: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Kansas City today, first doses delivered to TMC

The first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Kansas City on Monday morning. Officials with Truman Medical Centers and University Health said the first shipment of vaccine arrived Monday morning, and officials are now in the process of… more

Coping with COVID: Potential Thanksgiving case jump may not be seen for another two weeks

In a University of Kansas Health System daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Stites said that a potential Thanksgiving “surge” in cases may not be evident for another two weeks. As of Thursday. KU Health was… more

BlueKC to extend waive of some COVID-19 costs into 2021

A select number of commercial health insurers nationwide have announced they intend to continue waiving certain COVID-19 member costs going into 2021. Members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are among those to benefit, Blue KC only… more

Clinical Reference Laboratory expands operations out west

Confirm BioSciences out of San Diego, Calif. has been acquired by Lenexa-based Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL). CRL is one of the largest privately held clinical testing laboratories in the U.S., and now leverages Confirm's massive customer base in Drugs of… more

North Kansas City declines partnership with Vizient

At least one of three Kansas City metro hospitals has opted out of a statewide partnership with Vizient, a national health care performance company. First announced as a statewide partnership by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, the company is expected to… more

KU Hospital, metro seeing rapid depletion of ICU beds

During the University of Kansas Health System's daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday morning, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, the hospital's director of infection prevention and control, noted that of the hospital's 89 patients with an acute COVID-19 infection, 47 of them are in the… more

Metro health department re-established after two years

The city of Independence has established its own health department after eliminating some services in 2018. Mayor Eileen Weir made the announcement Monday. “The year 2020 has shown all of us the importance of public health and we have been… more