Health

The clinic formerly operated by the late Dr. George Tiller in Wichita has been purchased by a group that intends to reopen it as a medical facility for women.

Trust Women Foundation Inc. Executive Director Julie Burkhart says her Wichita-based nonprofit bought the clinic in late August. An attorney for Dr. Tiller’s widow also confirmed the sale.

Burkhart is a former Tiller employee. She has said in the past that she was involved in efforts to open a new clinic in Wichita.

The Kansas Insurance Department says a Blue Cross plan should set the standard for essential health benefits for all individual and small group health plans sold on the coming exchange in Kansas.

Friday is your last chance to post comments online for federal health officials to consider in their decision on privatization of the Kansas Medicaid program.

More than 60 percent of Kansans are classified as overweight or obese, and summit in Topeka Thursday was aimed at finding ways to tackle that problem.

Governor Sam Brownback told the gathering about the steps he’s had to take to control his weight - specifically, watching his eating.

Brownback has a simple message for people fighting obesity: don’t give up.

“Most of America struggles with weight at one time or another,” he said. “This is not an unusual situation that you are in or that anybody else is in. We all have, just don’t give up.”

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger says the state needs to decide soon what health benefits it would offer under federal health care reform.

During a meeting with health care officials Wednesday, Praeger said if Kansas doesn’t pick its own plan for a health insurance exchange, the federal government will make the decision for the state.

Under the federal Affordable Care Act, states have until September 30th to decide what benefits will be included in a health insurance exchange.