For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2007                                                                                                     

Questions Raised Concerning Hospital Partnership Agreements

For Information Contact:
Rep. Jim Morrison 785/296.7676


TOPEKA – The Kansas House of Representatives’ Committee on Government Efficiency and Technology concluded its first week of hearings today on proposed partnership agreements involving the University of Kansas Hospital Authority (KUH), University of Kansas Medical Center and School of Medicine (KUMC) and St. Luke’s Hospital. 

Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Morrison (R-Colby) said he is apprehensive about the proposed agreements.

 “After three days of hearings outlining negotiations between the entities, I am unsure if the partnerships will benefit Kansas,” said Rep. Morrison.  “There were a number of questions raised to which the committee received no clear-cut answers.  It has become apparent the Kansas Legislature must be involved to make sure Kansans are not on the loosing end of this proposed partnership.”  

KUMC has been negotiating with both KUH and St. Luke’s to establish separate partnerships involving their medical faculty, staff and students. Committee Members heard from and questioned representatives from KUH, KUMC, and Kansas Board of Regents.

Chairman Morrison questioned the apparent lack of communications between all parties involved in the negotiations. 

“For something this important to Kansas, it seems to me that all parties should be talking and working out disagreements.  However, after hearing the viewpoints from all parties I can say these negotiations have not been an open process,” Rep. Morrison observed.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) expressed his concerns about the outcome of these hearings.

“Based on these hearings and talking with Chairman Morrison, there needs to be information available on how these agreements will benefit Kansans. Any partnership agreement should be about improving medical education and supporting broad-based research, not sending our resources across the state-line,” Speaker Neufeld said.  “I really prefer these issues not have to be addressed by the Kansas Legislature. But if our concerns cannot be laid to rest, the Kansas Legislature will be forced to protect the interests of the people of Kansas.” 

The Committee on Government Efficiency and Technology is scheduled to hear next week from Board Members of the Kansas Board of Regents and the University of Kansas Hospital Authority.

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