Kansas Home Care Association Shares Critical Information on Health Care Options

Many Kansans are working to become aware of health care options, because of health issues they are dealing with for themselves or their family members. Among the service agencies they need to know about is the Kansas Home Care Association.

Home care is a health care option offering a broad range of medical care and support services provided in the home. Services range from simple assistance in the activities of daily living to high-tech medical procedures.

Home care is a cost-effective alternative to hospital and nursing home stays. Home care services are provided through a variety of home care providers, whether independently owned or associated with hospitals, nursing homes, or public health departments. The Kansas Home Care Association offers a directory of member agencies that will allow you to search for an agency using specific search criteria. All agencies providing medical care in the home in Kansas are licensed and surveyed by the state, and many are certified by Medicare.

The site reviews the types of Home Care that might be available,specifies the advantages of home care, gives advice on how to choose a home care agency, and shares information on how Home Care is usually paid for.
http://www.kshomecare.org/about

When actually trying to find an appropriate agency:
http://www.kshomecare.org/KansasAgencies

It is wise to move to Advanced Search, because that allows the search to be limited by both type of care and geographical location.

Many people probably make their first contact with home care through a hospital or other health care provider, but there is also an extensive set of helpful links to agencies and organizations.
http://www.kshomecare.org/helpful_links

The site also has good information for those who want to work in the fields of home care and hospice and become active in the Kansas Home Care Association.

Article contact: Shannon Roy

Synthetic Marijuana

 Search, seizure and investigations into the possession and sale of various forms of "synthetic marijuana" by law enforcement agencies in Kansas have been in the news of late giving rise to questions about synthetic marijuana.

Below are links to information on synthetic marijuana from various government websites as well as an article from a Kansas newspaper:

Synthetic pot cases increase
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/aug/09/synthetic-pot-cases-increase/
Lawrence Journal World article - August 9, 2012

DrugFacts: Spice (Synthetic Marijuana)
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/spice-synthetic-marijuana
(from the National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Synthetic Marijuana
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/may-2012/synthetic-marijuana/
(from FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin)

Synthetic Drugs (a.k.a. K2, Spice, Bath Salts, etc.)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/synthetic-drugs-k2-spice-bath-salts
(from U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/Blog/synthetic_marijuana.pdf
(Easily printable pdf version)

Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/press12/synthetic-marijuana-faqs-for-consumers.pdf
(from New York City Health Department... pdf file)

A guide for parents and other influencers
http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Parents360-Synthetics-Bath-Salts-K2-Spice-Parents-Guide-FINAL-2-13-12.pdf
(pdf booklet for adult caretakers on synthetic marijuana from drugfree.org)

Article contact: Bill Sowers
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Water Rights and Water Conservation in Kansas

With the current drought in Kansas, there is a lot of interest in water rights and the conservation of water in Kansas.  Here are some resources that should be helpful to persons interested in this topic.
The Kansas Water Office is one of the main resources for information about water law and conservation in the state.
http://www.kwo.org/

Within the Kansas Water Office, there is a specific site for the current drought. 
http://www.kwo.org/reports_publications/Drought.htm

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment also has a water office which deals with various aspects of water law, regulation for construction and health issues.
http://www.kdheks.gov/water/index.html

The Kansas Department of Agriculture has an office that deals with reports on agricultural use of water in Kansas.
http://www.ksda.gov/appropriation/

Also from the Kansas Department of Agriculture
Kansas Handbook of Water Rights.
http://www.ksda.gov/appropriation/content/240

Kansas Conservation and Resources from Kansas State University
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/conservation/s&w.htm

Water Conservation Education Resources
http://www.kwo.org/projects_programs/Water_Conservation_Education.html

Water Well Inspection Manual.
http://www.kdheks.gov/waterwell/download/Well_Inspection_Training_for_Water_Wells_4-5-12_Final.pdf

Kansas Water Well Program
http://www.kdheks.gov/waterwell/index.html

The Kansas Geological Survey is also a good source for water information.
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/

Rules and Regulations of Water  Appropriation Act, 2012
http://www.ksda.gov/includes/statute_regulations/mainportal/KWAA_Rules_Regs.pdf

NOAA update of drought information
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=drought

SW Kansas drought information 2012
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ddc/?n=drought

The Drought Monitor

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Go to the Kansas State Library's catalog, to search for further information on water resources and rights in Kansas, and to search databases for further information on the 2012 drought.

Article contact: Tom Roth

State of Healthcare in Kansas

On June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court released it's ruling on the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), otherwise known as the Affordable Care Act. PPACA changes how healthcare insurance is offered in the U.S.  In anticipation of this ruling, many government agencies have compiled information and resources for states and citizens to use to learn more about how the PPACA and this ruling affects state legislation and everyday lives of Americans. 

Full text of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA):
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW-111publ148.pdf

Summary of the PACCA:
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, division of Healthcare's page on PPACA:
http://www.healthcare.gov/

Kansas Department of Health and Environment's page on PPACA:
http://www.kdheks.gov/hcf/ppaca/default.htm

Kansas Insurance Commissioner's page on PPACA: http://www.ksinsurance.org/consumers/healthreform/hcr.htm

U.S. Supreme Court Opinion on PPACA:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf

President Obama's remarks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/28/remarks-president-supreme-court-ruling-affordable-care-act

Information on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling from the Kansas Legislative Research Department:
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/Publications/HealthReform/memo_general_orrmariani_medicaidexpansion.pdf   

National Conference of State Legislature's summary of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling:
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/us-supreme-court-and-the-federal-health-law.aspx

State legislation and actions challenging certain health reforms, 2011-2012 :
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/state-laws-and-actions-challenging-aca.aspx

Information from the U.S. Deparment of Health and Human Services on how the ruling affects you and your family:
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/information-for-you/index.html  
Article contact: Kim Harp

New Population Estimates

The Census Bureau released the first annual population estimates for cities since the 2010 Census on Thursday June 28.  Each year, they produce population estimates for cities, counties and county subdivisions, the states and the nation.  The Census uses administrative data from a number of sources, including vital statistics for births and deaths and IRS data for migration, to create the estimates.

Here are the five cities with more than 1,000 residents that had the fastest growth rate since April 1, 2010:

City	July 1, 2011 est.	April 1, 2010	Change	Percent change
Ogden	2,150	2,087	63	3.01%
Junction City	24,015	23,353	662	2.83%
Grandview Plaza	1,603	1,560	43	2.75%
Manhattan	53,678	52,281	1,397	2.67%
Dodge City	27,921	27,340	581	2.13%

The five cities with the largest total increase:

City	July 1, 2011 est.	April 1, 2010	Change	Percent change
Overland Park	176,185	173,372	2,813	1.62%
Wichita	384,445	382,368	2,077	0.54%
Olathe	127,907	125,872	2,035	1.62%
Manhattan	53,678	52,281	1,397	2.67%
Lawrence	88,727	87,643	1,084	1.24%

The five counties with the largest total increase:

County	July 1, 2011 est.	April 1, 2010	Change	Percent change
Johnson	552,991	544,179	8,812	1.62%
Sedgwick	501,076	498,365	2,711	0.54%
Riley	72,997	71,115	1,882	2.65%
Douglas	112,211	110,826	1,385	1.25%
Shawnee	178,941	177,934	1,007	0.57%

For each year’s estimates, the entire time series of estimates beginning April 1, 2010 is revised and updated.  Each revision is called a “vintage,” making these data vintage 2011 or V2011.  Because of the annual revision and updating, you cannot compare estimates from one vintage to another.

To dig more deeply into the data, go to:

http://www.census.gov/popest/data/index.html

If, as you read this, you wonder “what estimation method do they use, anyway?”  You can read all you want about the estimates methodology at:

http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/index.html

The Secretary of State’s office certifies each year’s estimates for use by various State agencies and programs.  After certification, the official yearly estimates can be found at:

http://budget.ks.gov/ecodemo.htm

**Please note that these certified estimates are from that year’s vintage.  In other words, they will soon publish V2011, in a year V2012, etc.  As mentioned above, you cannot compare vintage to vintage, so you should not compare the V2012 estimate to V2011.

Article contact: Peter Haxton
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Kansas Boating Requirements

As the summer season gets underway, Kansas boaters will head for Kansas waterways. Experienced boaters know that there is more to boating than playing with cool water. New boat owners need to absorb regulations, requirements, and best practices for safety.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has a web page that is devoted to the needs of Kansas boaters. It may be accessed at:

Kansas Boating

This page will help boaters be safe, knowledgeable, and legally responsible. The page helps boat owners register their boats or renew their registrations. It also creates easy access to the Home Study and Online Study courses that are recommended for adults and required for boaters between 12 and 20. There is also information on access points for boating all over the state. 

The Law Enforcement link is the most important source for legal information on registration, equipment and operations.

Boat owners are advised to review all regulations every year because changes in boating laws can occur at any time. The Law Enforcement page also has information on Water Skiing and Towing, Boating and Alcohol, and Accident Reporting.

This site is remarkably easy to navigate and offers a good selection of official contacts, in addition to online information. The quick link PDF documents chosen for this site include:

The Regulations Summary
BUI (Boating Under the Influence) Information
The Home Study Course

Involvement in recreational water sports has been steadily rising in Kansas, making this practical information not only useful, but critically important to keeping Kansans and their children safe.

Article contact: Shannon Roy
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Kansas Travel Information

KANSAS TRAVEL INFORMATION

Thinking of taking a drive through of Kansas?  Want to take a long family vacation?    Here are some interesting websites that will give you lots of Information on places to visit in Kansas to help make your summer travel plans more fun and eventful.

The first stop on your virtual tour of information on travel in Kansas would be the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.  Here you will find information on state parks, hunting fishing, and camping information.  You can even make park reservations, buy a hunting license, and much more

http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/

Request a beautiful Free Kansas Travel Guide by using the form on the linked page below.  This is a magazine style booklet with over a hundred pages packed with interesting information to help you choose the right trip for you.

http://www.travelks.com/s/VisitorGuideE.cfm

The Kansas Turnpike Authority website has information about travel, cost of using the Turnpike, maps, etc.  If you can use the Turnpike on your trip you will travel a safe modern highway that has many conveniences along the way, including rest stops, restaurants, and Tourist Information centers.

http://www.ksturnpike.com/

Travelks.com has a trip planner which lists sites to see, hotels, etc. that you can use to plan a trip.  It is part of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website.

http://www.travelks.com/s/index.cfm?trip

Travel Guides Free will give you a list of free guides for major Kansas cities such as Kansas City, Wichita, Emporia, Topeka, etc. http://www.travelguidesfree.com/FreeTravelBrochures/Midwest/Kansas/

The Kansas Government website also has a lot of information of travel to and in Kansas.  This site lists various activities by categories, such as boating, what will list bodies of water, license information and laws and regulation on

http://www.kansas.gov/tourism/

Trip Advisor also has a section on visiting Kansas. 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g28937-Kansas-Vacations.html

Roadside America has a site that provides information on some of the more off beat things to see and do in Kansas.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/ks

Want a quiet trip away from the hustle and bustle of the city  the following site specializes in providing travel information to the rural side of Kansas.

http://www.getruralkansas.org/

The Kansas State Historical Society, located in Topeka is a great place to visit, their site has information on their Topeka location, but has a lot of historical information on Kansas and places in Kansas.

http://www.kshs.org/portal_visit

If you come through Topeka, don’t forget to stop by the Kansas State Capitol, the following web site will provide information on time that the capitol is open, and times for tours.

http://www.kansastravel.org/kansasstatecapitol.htm

For road emergencies and road information,  look over this site for Kansas Highway Patrol for helpful information.  They also have a kids site.

http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/

Don’t forget to check the weather.  The NOAA site is a great site for checking out the daily weather and weekly forecasts.

http://www.noaa.gov/

Enjoy your summer vacation, and trip around Kansas!

Article contact: Tom Roth
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