Topeka – Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives Melvin Neufeld today renewed his call to bring the Kansas Legislature into the partnership negotiations between the University of Kansas Hospital Authority (KUH), University of Kansas Medical Center and School of Medicine (KUMC) and St. Luke’s Hospital after reading a Letter of Intent between KUH and KUMC.

“Based on what is listed in their letter of intent, I don’t see any benefit to Kansas in the partnership with St. Luke’s.  I have requested a copy of the Letter of Intent between KUMC and St. Luke’s Hospital but have yet to receive it,” Speaker Neufeld said.  “Through the years Kansans have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in KUH and KUMC.  The Kansas Legislature needs to be part of the negotiations to protect those investments.  This could undo all of the good that has been done at KUH these last ten years.”

Speaker Neufeld expressed concern the Letter of Intent leaves several major issues undecided:

• The status of KUH as the “Primary Academic Clinical, Teaching and Research Hospital” and whether KUH faculty can be assigned to other facilities are unclear.

• No provisions are included that address the financial agreements between KUH and KUMC.

• No definition is given of the leadership role KUH should have in achieving National Cancer Institute Designation.

• The number of KU interns who would take part in programs at St. Luke’s is not clearly defined or limited.

“I am not opposed to KUH and KUMC expanding their research programs and facilities but this is not about research, this is about siphoning off interns to St. Luke’s,” said Neufeld. “Pulling a critical mass of students out of the Kansas program to intern at St. Luke’s would reduce not only KU Hospital’s ability to care for its patients but also impact KUMC-Wichita which relies on those interns. I am concerned the agreement will have a negative impact on the primary care network in our state.”

Neufeld called for all those involved to step back from their March 31^st deadline and look at the bigger picture for Kansas.

“It is in the best interest of Kansas to invest in KUH and KUMC to make them the premier teaching hospital and medical center in the Midwest.  But Kansans may hesitate to continue their financial commitments to the two if they are unsure of their return.  By allowing public input through the Kansas Legislature, we can make sure our state’s assets and future are take care of,” Neufeld said.

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