We need to improve health and health care in Kansas. This does not necessarily mean a big, expensive program. But it does mean paying attention and doing a lot of things that will reduce the cost of health care and health insurance, making both more affordable for Kansans. Here are a few ideas – please contact me if you have others.

• Facilitating the forming of insurance buying pools, especially for small businesses and others such as Kansas teachers (increase ability to pay)
• Preventing excessive jury awards for medical malpractice while insuring that the right of Kansas citizens to use the courts to regain all appropriate damages and, if necessary, punitive damages (reduce costs to health care industry)
• Maintaining a strong public health effort to reduce the spread of disease (reduce demand for health care, reduce costs)
• Helping with increased safety to reduce the demand on health facilities (reduce demand for health care, reduce costs)
• Encouraging healthy diet and exercise in schools and all Kansas State work sites (reduce demand for health care, reduce costs)
• Encouraging more education in the sciences (long term increase in medical and medical support personnel, reduce costs and improve care)
• Holding all clinics to high standards of cleanliness, staffing, and record keeping (reduce malpractice related health problems)
• Increasing public awareness of health related issues (reduce demand on and focus health care resources)