MDNews - Greater Kansas

calculated economic multipliers, or "ripple effects," and estimated that hospitals account for 74,014 additional jobs throughout all other businesses and industries in the state. In other words, for each new job in the hospital sector, an additional 0.88 jobs were created in other businesses and industries in Kansas. The hospital sector employment had a total impact on state employment of more than 158,400 jobs. Fur thermore, the entire health sec - tor in Kansas employs about 226,175 people, or 11.6 percent of all job holders in the state. This puts Kansas ahead of the national average of 10 percent of job holders working in healthcare ser vices. The total employment impact of the health ser vices sector in Kansas is ap - proximately 374,173 jobs, making it the four th largest aggregate employer in the state. The study also found Kansas hospitals generate more than $5.7 billion in direct labor income to the Kansas economy each year. For ever y dollar of income generated in the hospital sector, an ad - ditional $0.56 was generated in other business and industr y. The full statewide repor t and links to county repor ts can be found on the KHA website. KHA is a voluntar y, nonprofit organi - zation existing to be the leading advo- cate and resource for members. KHA membership includes 212 facilities, of which 126 are full-ser vice, community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA's vision is "Optimal Health for Kansans." FREEMAN CARDIOTHORACIC AND VASCULAR SURGEON OPENS PITTSBURG CLINIC; CLINIC INCREASES ACCESS TO EXPERT HEART AND VASCULAR CARE Raymond Vetsch, MD, Freeman cardiotho- racic and vascular surgeon, has opened a new clinic in Pittsburg, Kansas, to give patients greater access to heart care close to home. Dr. Vetsch, who has practiced at Freeman Health System since 1998, has opened the new clinic at Freeman Physician Group of Pittsburg, 1201 E. Centennial Drive. "Cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States," Dr. Vetsch says. "Many individuals put off appointments or ignore warning signs be - cause it's too far to travel, and that decision could become a matter of life or death. This clinic takes travel out of the equation so we can put patients on the road to better health." Dr. Vetsch provides con - sultation and treatment for coronary artery disease, valvular disease, vascular disease, periph - eral vascular disease, pulmonary nodules, interstitial lung disease and renal disease. Interventional surgical procedures will be performed at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri. No referrals are needed. To schedule an appointment, call 417-347-5001. In addition to Pittsburg, Freeman has cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery offices in Joplin; Miami, Oklahoma; and Grove, Oklahoma. KANSAS HOUSE CONSIDERS KANCARE EXPANSION BILL BY SARAH GOODING A ticker on the Kansas Hospital Association's website shows a forfeiture of nearly 1.7 billion federal dollars and counting since the state declined to expand KanCare, the insurance program for low-income Kansans. House Bill 2064, The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas, could dramatically change that. It is being touted as a "fiscally responsible, Kansas-based solution that will bring hun - dreds of millions of our federal tax dollars back to Kansas — creating jobs, boosting our economy, protecting hospitals and improving the health of Kansas," according to Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a statewide coalition dedicated to expanding KanCare. HB 2064, which would provide coverage for around 150,000 more low-income Kansans, was first introduced at the start of the legislative season, when it also was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services. As of press time, three hearings had been held, and Cindy Samuelson, Vice President, Public Relations and Political Fundraising for KHA, says legislators planned to work on the bill the week of Feb. 12. "It's just important that they're having a discussion on this issue," Samuelson says, adding it's particularly important with the ACA under review. "Thirty-one states have already accepted Medicaid. If they look at doing something different with the program, we don't want to be left behind." She says expanding KanCare is important for physicians statewide, not only in terms of payments for services, but also because of physicians' commitment to patients' health. "In the long term, what physicians care about is people's health, and if you look at the outcomes, people with coverage will seek more proactive care," Samuelson says. Additional information is available at kha-net.org or expandkancare.com. The bill can be tracked under the "bills and laws" tab at kslegislature.org. KMGMA SPRING CONFERENCE SLATED The Kansas Medical Group Management Association will hold its Spring Conference at the Wichita Marriott on April 19–21, 2017. This presents an opportunity to meet 150 medical manag - ers for a two-day conference focusing on issues affecting medical managers today. In addition, there is a one-day workshop for rural health clinic managers as well 65 exhibitors. For information about attending or exhibiting, please visit KMGMA.org or contact Claire Daniels, Executive Assistant, at cdaniels1@cox.net. ■ Raymond Vetsch, MD Jason Wesco, Executive Vice President at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, testifies in favor of KanCare expansion during a hearing Feb. 8 in Topeka. PHOTO © COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF SOUTHEAST K ANSAS 2 2❱❱❱❱❱ H O S P I TA L R O U N D S

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