Bryan Thompson
Bryan Thompson has been KPR's Health Reporter since 2000. He's a lifelong Kansan, and a graduate of Wichita State University. He's been involved in radio news longer than he'd care to admit, serving as news director at stations in El Dorado, Liberal, and Salina before joining KPR. He and his wife, Cindy, are the parents of six outstanding children--one of whom now looks down on them from above. In his spare time, Bryan enjoys music and sports.
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A new poll explores how Americans perceive their own personal experiences with the health care system. The survey also looked specifically at seven states, including Kansas, where one concern was the rising cost of health care.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says Kansas could help 34,000 uninsured residents suffering from mental illness or substance abuse if the state would expand Medicaid under its KanCare program.
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A study indicates that access to KanCare could help many patients get mental health treatment before their problems reach crisis levels.
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Debate continues over sheltered workshops. Are these facilities a stepping stone to better employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities? Or are they warehouses that take advantage of low-skilled laborers?
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Federal officials say they're pleased with the latest enrollment numbers for federal health insurance. In Kansas, more than 100,000 have signed up for Obamacare and in Missouri, nearly 300,000.
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There's still no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there are therapies that can help. One such therapy involves music and it's catching on in Clay County, Kansas.
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Americans waste tons of food each year, but an effort is underway to put that food to better use so it doesn't wind up in the landfill. An effort in Wichita involving a grocery store chain and community groups is trying to cut food waste in half during the next 15 years.
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An effort called Cover Kansas is trying to help Kansans navigate the federal health insurance marketplace so they can get the best health insurance plan to fit their needs.
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The switch to a new medical coding and billing system in Kansas is going surprisingly well, so far.
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The wide racial disparity in infant mortality in Kansas narrowed somewhat last year.