hospitals

The new federal law is expected to eliminate $1 trillion in federal spending on Medicaid over the next decade. University Health in Kansas City, which counts on Medicaid for more than half of its patient revenue, expects a huge financial hit but vows that cutting services and staff will be the last resort.

President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” cuts about $1 trillion in federal Medicaid funding. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley helped push for the inclusion of money for rural hospitals, but experts say it's just "a drop in the bucket" — and could force even more providers to close.

Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said he made changes to the Senate’s version of the Trump administration's reconciliation bill to soften the blow of Medicaid cuts on Kansas hospitals. But health care advocates say it won’t be enough.

The Missouri Hospital Association strongly opposed a plan to cap medical provider taxes at 3.5 percent. The tax helps hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies pay to treat low-income patients.

Missouri's House Speaker declined to sign a letter calling for passage of the "Big Beautiful Bill," citing its potential impact on the state's Medicaid program. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said the latest proposal "needs work."

Health plans often limit physical therapy to 20 or 30 sessions, even for people who may need months of treatment, multiple times a week, after severe accidents or health conditions. They're stuck paying out of pocket for the rest of the sessions they need to return to work or caring for kids.

The Department of Mental Health said the number of people waiting in jail to be transferred to psychiatric hospitals will continue to rise because inpatient beds are at capacity. A new hospital is planned in Kansas City, but it could be years before construction is complete.

The University of Kansas Health System now owns its smaller Missouri neighbor. The deal, which sparked political opposition in both states, reflects a growing trend of hospitals merging.

Problems caused by the attack included delayed or lost lab results, medication errors, and an absence of routine safety checks to prevent potentially fatal mistakes, doctors and nurses told reporters.

Around 14% of all staff positions at Missouri hospitals were vacant in 2023. That rate is lower than it was at the height of the pandemic, but still higher than in 2019.

The Blackwell Club, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, brings female surgery residents and attending physicians together for community and education.

Ascension operates hospitals, clinics and nursing homes in Kansas and Missouri. But it's released little information on the cyberattack, including whether private medical information was compromised.