University Daily Kansan / Thursdav. November 14, 1991
5
Sen. Winter calls health care political problem of the '90s
By Kerrie Gottschalk
Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA — Health care has become the most significant political problem of the decade and one that will not improve until significant changes are made, State Sen. Wint Winton Jr., R-Lawrence, said yesterday at a health care forum.
"We are being eaten out of our fiscal house by unabashed demands from the system."
Winter was the keynote speaker at the first of a series of public forums scheduled to address health care issues in Kansas.
He spoke to health care providers, insurance agency personnel, legislative representatives and members of the general public.
The meeting was sponsored by the University of Kansas Capitol Complex Center and KU departments of health administration and public administration.
Winter said the state budget
wrote that 7 million between fiscal
1992 and 1993.
He said $17 million was spent in the department of corrections to meet federal mandates, and another $15.6 million was allocated to Social and Rehabilitation Services for health care.
The spending in these two areas was more than the additional $27 million, and, as a result, funds were taken out of the education budget, Winter said. Education received a 65 percent cut this year.
"Did we improve the quality of services?
"Winter asked. "We did not buy better services, we simply reacted to mandates."
Winter said he had addressed the health care problem and vented his own frustration about the system by co-authoring Senate Bill 205. It calls for providing and financing comprehensive, statewide health insurance coverage for all Kansas residents.
"Right now, advocating the bill is a bit of folly." "Winter said.
He said he doubted any bill similar to 205 would pass within the next five years because too many gaps remained that would leave some people without service.
However, sponsoring the bill does demand the attention of colleagues and the public, Winter said.
Much of the response to Winter's speechcentered on the lack of primary health care for Medicaid and rural patients.
Other comments were directed toward the need to find more efficient and cost-effective ways to deliver health care.
"Until we limit the flow of funds to the health care system, nothing is going to change," said John Knack, of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
Winter said, "I think the point has been made that the system cannot stay the way it is."
Ray Davis, head of the KU department of health service administration, said the University sponsored the forum to help identify what kinds of realistic changes could be made within the health care system.
"The University is trying to play a bit of a facilitative role here," Davis said.
Fulcher named in lawsuit claiming he and former roommate failed to pay rent
Kansan staff report
Student body president Darren Fulcher is being sued by his former landlords because they claim he and his former roommate failed to pay a portion of their rent.
The landlords, Tennessee Investors, have filed a lawsuit with the Douglas County District Court against them. The former roommate, Riccardo Harris.
According to the Lawrence Journal World, Tennessee Investors claim that the two men owe them $1,605.50 in unpaid rent plus late charges.
Robert Sturgeon, one of the five Tennessee Investors, said the group had
given Fulcher and Harris opportunities to catch up on their rent payments.
"I'm sure every avenue was explored," Sturgeon said.
Diane Simpson, a counsel for Kaw Valley Management, said that Fulcher had been notified of the lawsuit before it was filed.
Kaw Valley Management is the property manager for Tennessee
Fulcher said last night that the lawsuit was unfounded.
"I'm totally paid up," he said.
Fulcher said Harris had left in April without notifying him. Fulcher then had to pay the April, May and June rent on his own, he said.
Another roommate moved in with Fulcher in June. His lease expired Sept 1., Fulcher said.
He no longer lives at the same residence.
Fulcher said he had scheduled a meeting with one of the landlords for 3 p.m. yesterday, but the landlord was late.
He said he could not wait for the landlord because he had made other plans.
"We've been trying to get this situated so my roommate will pay half the bill," he said. "But I don't know why this is newsworthy. This is outrageous."
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