Posted inState Government

Insurance covers mammograms, but Kansas patients are often on the hook for costly follow-up screenings

Delaying a diagnostic mammogram carries potentially deadly risks.  Diagnostic mammograms, MRIs, sonograms and other types of specialized breast imaging can help detect breast cancer when it’s most treatable. Stage 1 breast cancer has an almost 100% survival rate. That’s why yearly mammogram testing is free for women over 40.  But when doctors find something that […]

Posted inEducation, Kansas State Government

Kansas colleges aren’t sweating new law threatening $10,000 fines for certain DEI policies 

Takeaways: Requiring job candidates to talk about diversity, equity and inclusion during the hiring process could subject public universities in Kansas to $10,000 fines.  A new law bans colleges from requiring statements of support or opposition to political ideologies or movements during admission, hiring or promotion processes.  In practice, that means colleges can’t require staff […]

Posted inState Government

A Kansas ban on gender-affirming care couldn’t overcome a veto last year. Things are different now

Takeaways: Conservative Kansas lawmakers couldn’t ban gender-affirming care for transgender children last year after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill and Republicans fell short on an override vote. This year, they’ve passed a more restrictive ban and run into another veto from Kelly. Yet a veto override that would outlaw puberty blockers, hormone treatments […]

Posted inState Government

Transgender care, abortion, plastic bags and more: Your guide to Kansas Gov. Kelly’s 2024 vetoes

Takeaways: Update: The 2024 veto session has ended. Read this story to see what passed and what didn’t. Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes of bills that would restrict gender-affirming care for children and abortion rights are setting up override votes that will test the unity of conservatives in the Legislature.  One part of the Kansas legislative […]

Posted inKansas State Government

A Kansas grandmother couldn’t adopt her grandchild. The case points to larger issues in foster care

Takeaways: Mindy Mathes was thrilled when a foster agency picked her and her husband to adopt their granddaughter. The girl had been weathering the chaos of the Kansas foster care system, living in multiple homes before finding people to call family.  At the Mathes home, she’d have stuffed animals — unicorns and a beloved Grinch […]

Posted inKansas State Government

Will Gov. Laura Kelly sign or veto tax cuts? Here’s what else passed

Takeaways:  Kansas lawmakers approved new tax cuts, bans on gender-affirming cares and some new crimes this year.  The Republican-controlled Legislature can expect Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to veto some of the most controversial bills, setting up override votes.  Legislators finished the regular session and will take a few weeks off before returning for veto session.  […]

Posted inState Government

Kansas may ban gender-affirming care for minors. Doctors cite physical and mental costs of waiting

Takeaways: Iridescent Riffel wishes she could have started gender-affirming treatment when she was younger.  Riffel, a transgender Kansan, said she wasn’t in a welcoming home, so she delayed her transition until she felt more safe. She went through an unwanted puberty while she waited.   “I didn’t really want to grow facial hair,” she said. “A […]

Gift this article