TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
House debates birth control bill
Insurance companies would be required to pay for contraceptives
By Nikki Overfelt
noverfelt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The way women in Kansas pay for contraceptives could be changing.
A new bill under consideration in House committees would mandate that insurance companies cover the costs of all contraceptives.
Rep. Paul Davis (D-East-Central Lawrence) is one of the main proponents of the bill.
"Women have broken the glass ceiling all across the nation over the last several decades," Davis said. "However, the remnants of a male-dominated society are reflected in the design of standard health insurance policies."
For example, he said, when Viagra was introduced in 1998, one half of the prescriptions received insurance coverage within two months.
A goal of the bill, Davis said, is to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in Kansas. Contraceptives have a proven track record of reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies, he said.
Right now, some contraceptive services are covered by insurance plans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That group includes about 93 percent of health maintenance organizations, 70 percent of point of service plans, 50 percent of preferred provider organizations and 50 percent of indemnity plans.
But many of the policies do not cover all of the five most common contraceptive methods: oral contraceptives; the intrauterine device; the diaphragm; Norplant, a set of rods inserted into upper arm; and Depo Provera, the contraceptive shot, Davis said.
The Health Insurance Association of America, which represents commercial health insurers, does not support this bill, said Bill Sneed, a representative for the Topeka-based association.
Wilhite said she opposed the policy of most insurance companies, which says that contraceptives should not receive coverage.
Kelli Wilhite, Olathe sophomore and member of the Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition, works for one of the main supporters of the bill, Planned Parenthood, 2108 W.27th Drive.
"It's something that's important for women's health," she said.
"We oppose the bill because we oppose mandates of any kind," he said. "We believe the marketplace should determine what's covered."
Dean of students has appreciation talent for piano and gospel music
The bill, brought before the House Insurance Committee Thursday, will continue to be debated throughout the legislative session. Proponents of the bill were not able to testify at the Insurance Committee meeting Thursday because they did not have a statement that showed the bill's possible impact on Kansas, said chairwoman Patricia Barbieri-Lightner.
In light of this decision, Davis said, proponents would try to move the bill to another committee, amend it onto another bill or request that the chairwoman have another hearing.
By Megan Hickerson
mhickerson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
— Edited by Lindsay Hanson
Richard Johnson, dean of students, sits aside a piano on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union. Johnson, who works to establish positive relationships between students and faculty at the University of Kansas, has a love for gospel music. He began playing the piano when he was 6 years old.
Richard Johnson, dean of students, creates harmony in and out of the office.
He establishes good relationships between students and faculty, and aside from work he shares his love of music.
Johnson has been playing the piano since he was 6 years old when his mother enrolled him in piano lessons. It wasn't long until his mother figured out that he wasn't reading the notes — he was playing all the notes by ear.
Eric Braem/Kansan
Johnson's mother was a church musician. By the time he turned 11 years old, he was playing alongside her.
Although Johnson prefers piano, he also plays the drums, tenor and alto saxophones, oboe, bassoon, tuba, bass clarinet, piano and organ. He said when he was in the band at Oregon State University, the basketball team made a big play. The usual drummer was not present, so Johnson just sat down and took his place.
"I had never played the drums before in my life," he said. "I kept the beat though."
Although Johnson has an easy-going attitude, Carolus Taylor, his former pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Columbia, Mo., knows that Johnson likes things done in a specific manner.
"He's a perfectionist," Taylor said. "He really likes things to be done in a certain order. He has a good mind for what he's doing."
Johnson's love for gospel music was contagious. In 1992, he co-founded an ecumenical choir in Burlington, Vt. The choir performed at Gospel Fest, a choral event that Johnson founded and organized. The event was composed of 60 different voices from 60 different religions and denominations. Gospel Fest is an annual event that has been held every February in Burlington since 1993.
Although he no longer plays piano for a church choir, Johnson's love for music
"It was so cool to have Jews, Catholics, and Methodists all singing gospel music together," Johnson said.
thrives at KU. He is a fan of the KU marching band, and he has even traveled with the band to Tulsa, Okla.
Tom Stidham, associate director of the KU bands, said the whole band appreciated
his interest and support.
"Dean Johnson likes band and football," Stidham said. "He's a really personable guy."
— Edited by Melissa Hermreck