Elana Gordon

Kansas City, MO – Government, industry, and academic leaders are in Kansas City today to address some of the emerging challenges in developing new cancer treatments.

Kansas City, MO – For the many people who have pre-existing conditions and struggle to get health coverage, some relief is supposed to come today. July 1st marks the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' start-date for new high risk insurance pools. But in Kansas, like many other states (including Missouri), the pool isn't ready yet. And once it is up and running, it's still going to be quite limited. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger recently spoke with KCUR's Elana Gordon about the situation and what's accounting for the delay.

Kansas City, MO – A statewide smoking ban takes effect this week in Kansas.

Lawmakers approved the measure earlier this year. It prohibits smoking in public places, bars and restaurants, but exempts tobacco shops, casino gaming floors, and some private clubs.

Several cities throughout the state, including Lawrence and Overland Park, already have similar bans in place. Wyandotte County approved one about a year and a half ago. But it includes a three year transition period, and means many businesses still allow smoking.

Kansas City, MO – Psychologists, in-home care providers for the disabled, and drug abuse counselors in Missouri are facing a two percent payment reduction from the state. Last week, Governor Jay Nixon announced the move as part of a response to declining revenues.

Alan Flory is head of Rediscover, a community mental health center in Jackson County. He says there's no simple answer to the state's fiscal situation, but he says the reduction now means Rediscover will have less ability to respond to people in need of immediate help.

Kansas City, KS – A recent study ranked Wyandotte County as the least healthy county in the state. Now, local officials and residents are trying to figure out what to do about it.

About fifty people convened at Donnelly College this afternoon to develop a plan to improve the health of the region.

Joe Connor is head of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County Health Department and helped organize the meeting.

Kansas City, MO – Dr. Jasper Fullard founded the Black Health Care Coalition in the mid eighties. The coalition's addressed health disparities and worked to improve access to health services and preventative education throughout the metro area. Now, after three decades of practicing internal medicine in Kansas City, Dr. Fullard is retiring. KCUR's Elana Gordon brings us this profile.

Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

Kansas City, MO – Some major changes are coming to the U.S. health care system. For one, the health care overhaul passed by congress this year is supposed to expand coverage. But for immigrants trying to access health care in Kansas City and around the country, big obstacles remain.

Kansas City, Mo. – More babies are making it to the full nine-month term in Kansas City. But experts aren't sure why.

Between 1990 and 2006, the rate of pre-term births escalated in Kansas City and around the country. A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that rates are now starting to finally go down.

The pre-term birth rate in Kansas City, Missouri dropped by almost two percentage points between 2005 and 2008.

Kansas City, Mo. – About 1.6 million Missourians struggle to understand information about their health. As a result, area health leaders are launching a new initiative to improve health literacy across the state.

The nonprofit group, Health Literacy Missouri, is leading the project. Arthur Culbert is the group's president and says misunderstandings about health care are far too common.

"How many times have you seen a doctor and you walk out and it's like, 'I'm not really sure what he said,'" Culbert says.

Kansas City, Mo. – Federal health officials arrive at the Banister Federal Complex today, the latest part of an ongoing investigation of possible hazards inside the General Services Administration's (GSA's) side of the complex. It's the first time health officials have been called in.

Kansas City, Mo. – Much of the recently passed federal health reform law won't be implemented for several years. But one measure targeting young adults could take effect as early as next week. That's especially good news for college graduates. But the new change may not be as widespread in Kansas City as in other places.

Kansas City, Mo. – The new federal health law includes changes to insurance rules that could affect as many as a quarter of Missourians.

About 1.2 million people between the ages 18 and 64 have a diagnosed health condition in Missouri. That's according to a new study from the national consumer advocacy group Families U.S.A., which recently analyzed data from government surveys.

Kansas City, Mo. – Several area health providers as well as MAST are bracing for funding reductions from the city.

The Kansas City council is scheduled to vote today on about $3.5 million in cuts to area safety net providers. The city currently gives funds to places like Truman Medical Center and Swope Health Center by drawing from a special property tax that voters approved back in 2005.