From August 9 through August 13, 2009, the Midwestern Legislative Conference for The Council of State Governments met at the Sheraton Overland Park Convention Center to discuss issues that have an impact on all states and individuals. The following states comprise the Midwestern Conference group: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. All states and provinces had member present.

Five major issues were addressed with half-day sessions beginning on August 9. The subjects covered were Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Energy, and Midwest-Canada Relation. Since each of these sessions lasted from 8:00-1:00, we were only able to attend one session in order to hear all of the speakers. I attended the Health and Human Services Committee.

Paul Davis, Kathy Cook, Gene Rardin, Mike Slattery

During our session, we addressed the following concerns—strengthening the health care workforce, advancing health information technology under the Federal Stimulus Package, and improving health care quality and outcomes. All three areas are going to have an on-going impact on health care for years to come.

First, we have an aging population in the United States that is going to require more health care services. Simply put, as we get older, health care demands increase! We are now, and have been, experiencing large shortfalls in family practice and internal medicine physicians. Part of this shortage is caused because we have a 10% contraction in primary care training programs. There is also an increased interest in specialization and alternative careers in the medical field.

Next, as our population ages, more medications will be necessary to address health care needs. This will require more pharmacists. By some estimates, the U.S. would need more than 150,000 new pharmacists by 2020 to match supply with demand. Currently, women comprise the largest part of the pharmacy workforce. While this is an interesting statistic, they are also mothers who work less hours because of responsibilities at home. Therefore, it is going to require more pharmacists to cover our needs.

Lastly, we know that nurses have been in short supply for the last several years. While the economic downturn has pushed more women back to work, many are predicting the recurrence of a major nursing shortage as the economy improves, the aging population demands increasing care, and more nurses enter non-patient care employment.

As you can see, these are weighty issues that require ongoing solutions. Kansas has recently increased the number of pharmacy school openings available at the University of Kansas. This is one small step.

Several other solutions taken under consideration were recruiting young people (high school) from rural communities, seeking those with a generalist perspective, and providing for physician loans and scholarships. Strengthening the health care workforce is really like a three-legged stool.

• We must recruit the best.
  
• We must train them well.
  
• We must sustain them in practice.
  
• During my update next week, I will continue with discussions regarding advancing health technology under the Federal Stimulus Package.

Interim Committees are now in the process of meeting. Of special interest, the House Appropriations Committee met August 24 and 25. These meetings were called by Chairman Yoder to look at state budget updates. They reviewed selected school budgets, KPERS, Judicial Branch budgets and caseload review.

There is a feeling from many on the Appropriations Committee that schools should have deeper cuts. Keep yourself informed on this issue.

Representative Cindy Neighbor, Shawnee

Links:

• State of Kansas
  
• Kansas Governor
  
• Kansas Legislature

Tom Holland & Sue Storm