The purpose of the survey was to gather input from residents and community leaders about a wide range of health-related issues in Kansas. Some of the specific questions that were asked included:

• Which issues contribute most to the high cost of health care in Kansas?
• Should all hospitals and health care facilities where surgeries are performed be required to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay?
• Should all hospitals and health care facilities where surgeries are performed be required to provide 24-hour emergency or urgent care services?
• Should hospitals or health care facilities that only treat patients who can afford their services be required to financially support facilities that treat all patients regardless of their ability to pay?
• Do you think the amount that hospitals and physicians are reimbursed by insurance providers is too high or too low?
• Do you think the amount that hospitals and physicians are reimbursed by government providers is too high or too low?
• Should all Americans have health insurance coverage?

Resident Survey Methodology. The resident survey was administered by phone to a stratified random sample of 300 Kansas residents. A least 50 surveys were completed in each of the Kansas Hospital Association’s six districts. The overall results of the resident survey have a precision of at least +/-5.9% at the 95% level of confidence.

Community Leader Survey Methodology. The community leader survey was administered by phone to a random sample of 157 community leaders. Community leaders included a cross section of local elected officials, business leaders, chamber of commerce officials, senior city/county government staff, senior school district officials, and others. The overall results of the community leader survey have a precision of at least +/-7.6% at the 95% level of confidence.

Major Findings

• Health Care Issues that Residents and Community Leaders Thought Were the Biggest Problems in Kansas. The cost of health care services was considered to be the biggest health care problem to both residents and community leaders. The high number of uninsured people in Kansas was the second highest rated issue for both groups.

• Factors that Residents and Community Leaders Thought Contribute Most to the High Cost of Health Care. The factors that residents and community leaders thought contribute most to the high cost of health care in Kansas were (1) lawsuits and legal expenses, (2) insurance companies, and (3) the cost of prescription drugs.

• Treating Patients Regardless of Their Ability to Pay. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of residents and 85% of community leaders thought health care facilities where surgeries are performed should be required to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay.

• Requiring 24-hour Emergency and Urgent Care Services. Eighty-five percent (85%) of residents and 77% of community leaders thought hospitals and health care facilities where surgeries are performed should be required to provide 24-hour emergency or urgent services.

• Sharing the Cost of Providing Services for Those Who Cannot Pay. Sixty-three percent (63%) of residents and 62% of community leaders thought hospitals or health care facilities that only treat patients who can afford their services should be required to financially support facilities that treat all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

Reimbursements by INSURANCE COMPANIES.

• Insurance Company Reimbursements to Hospitals. When asked about the amount that hospitals are reimbursed by insurance companies, 19% of the residents and 18% of the leaders thought it was too high, 46% of the residents and 46% of the leaders thought it was about right, and 14% of the residents and 16% of the leaders thought it was too little.

• Insurance Company Reimbursements to Physicians. When asked about the amount that physicians are reimbursed by insurance companies, 22% of the residents and 19% of the leaders thought it was too high, 47% of the residents and 57% of the leaders thought it was about right, and 11% of the residents and 7% of the leaders thought it was too little.

Reimbursements by GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

• Government Program Reimbursements to Hospitals. When asked about the amount that hospitals were reimbursed by government programs, 12% of residents and 6% of leaders thought it was too high, 38% of residents and 24% of leaders thought it was about right, and 21% of residents and 38% of leaders thought it was too little.

• Government Program Reimbursements to Physicians. When asked about the amount that physicians were reimbursed by government programs, 15% of residents and 8% of leaders thought it was too high, 40% of residents and 32% of leaders thought it was about right, and 17% of residents and 29% of leaders thought it was too little.