The weekend's weather
Tomorrow: Warm and mostly sunny.
HIGH LOW 86 59
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Sunday: Dry but not quite as warm.
Kansan Weekend Edition
HIGH LOW 84 58
Friday September 24,1999
Section:
A
Vol. 110 • No. 26
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Med Center settles case of denied treatment
(USPS 650-640)
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The University of Kansas Hospital has reached a settlement with the government for $148,000 on charges it refused to treat patients.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had accused the hospital of refusing to treat three patients and inappropriately transferring another patient in 1997, according to the settlement.
The agency said the hospital violated a 1986 law, which states that hospitals participating in Medicare cannot deny emergency treatment because patients are unable to pay and cannot delay treatment to verify insurance coverage.
The hospital settled the accusations in June without admitting wrongdoing.
"These cases happened several years ago, before there was clarity regarding the standards," said Mary K. Ball, hospital representative Wednesday. "We've resolved the issues."
The hospital also agreed to run newspaper ads stating its emergency room was available to examine everyone who came there.
The alleged violations took place when the hospital was operated by the state. The hospital became a quasi-public entity in 1998. It is now governed by the University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board, which agreed to the settlement.
The hospital is part of the University of Kansas Medical Center campus.
In 1988, there were settlements of 53 cases involving alleged patient dumping, said Alwyn Cassil, a representative for the inspector general's office at the Department of Health and Human Services.
That was in increase from 13 cases in 1997, she said. Forty-nine such settlements were reached through June 30 of this year.
Casil said such cases were a high priority, and the government was devoting additional resources to resolving them.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Tonight
Hawk Night from 8 p.m. to midnight at Memorial Stadium.
Fiddler on the Roof at Lawrence Community Theater, 1501 New Hampshire St.
Jacki's Big Ass Birthday Bash with Sufferbus, the Creature Comforts, Fifteen Minutes Fast, Appleseed Cast and Six Percent 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck. 737 New Hampshire St.
KU Symphony Orchestra: A Tribute to Johann Strauss Jr. 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center.
Band that Saved the World at 10 p.m. at the Jazebus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
the Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
John Weatherwax and Junk Yard Jazz from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 3408 W. Sixth St.
Band Day Parade at 1 p.m. on Massachusetts Street.
Jacki's Big Ass Birthday Bash with Ultimate Fakebook, Proudentall, Reflector, Anniversary and the Palindromes beginning 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck.
Barabbas, the company in the Whiteheaded Boy 7 p.m. at the Lied Center.
Son Venezuela 10 p.m. at the Jazzhaus.
Sunday
Barabbas, the company in the Whiteheaded Boy 2 p.m. at the Lied Center.
...
Index
News .3A
Nation .6B
Classifieds .7B
Game times .1B
Horoscopes .2B
Coupons .5B
Movie Listings .5A
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
By Clay McCutssion and Nathan Willis
writer@kansas.com
Kansan staff writers
Enrollment at the University of Kansas bumped up 1 percent this semester — an increase of 251 students — but incoming freshmen's American College Test scores remained stagnant.
The mild growth in enrollment, revealed by the Board of Regents' release of 20th day enrollment figures yesterday for the six state universities, the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State and Wichita State University, was what KU administrators had hope.
"That's exactly what we want," said Tom Hutton, university relations director. "We're not looking for any wild shifts."
However, the average ACT score fell a few hundredths of a point from last year, to 24.04, breaking a streak of five consecutive years of gains.
20th day numbers report
But administrators said they that weren't too concerned.
"I think the bottom line is it's not statistically significant," said Diana Carlin, interim assistant provost of academic services. "We continue to be above the national average."
According to ACT Inc., the average score in 1999 was 21, unchanged from 1998.
Alan Cerveny, director of admissions, said that the average score didn't show some of the University's achievements.
"We have no control over that," he said. "The University is still operating with open admissions in-state."
Elsewhere in the Regents system, the biggest growth was at Kansas State, where enrollment jumped by 3.1 percent — 612 students. Kansas State had the largest increase
Thirty percent of the freshman class scored a 27 or better, he said, an improvement from previous years. That shows that the University has been successful in recruiting high-achieving scholars, he said.
in number of new students at all of
the Regents schools.
"The last several years we've had healthy increases," said Pat Bosco, dean of student life and institutional enrollment manager at K-State. "It was expected."
Bosco said K-State President Jon Wefald had set increased enrollment as a goal for his university.
"We have a strategic enrollment management plan," Bosco said. "It allows for
planned, systematic growth."
Carlin said K-State and the University of Kansas couldn't be compared because the colleges each had their own plans for growth.
She said the University of Kansas' moderate growth prevented resources such as the enrollment center from being stressed. It also keeps the number of students in classes from being too high. In fact, Carlin said, the enrollment center reported a mild year.
"Interestingly, they said this was a much
easier semester for them than in the past," she said.
Lindy Eakin, associate provost for support services, said the moderate growth also would have little financial impact on programs affected by 20th day numbers, such as the $1-per-credit-hour student technology fee.
"Regarding the tech fee, there will now be an opportunity for a little more money
See K-STATE on page 2A
THIS OLD HOUSE
See page 8A
The Ludington-Thacher mansion comes to life as the designer show house.
...
Teaching and preaching
Student senators give the son of a preacher man a standing ovation for his passionate evolution stance.
See page 3A
4