SPEAKER NEUFELD PRESENTED PRESIDENT’S AWARD BY KANSAS FAMILY DOCTORS

FROM THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER NEUFELD

August 14, 2008

Contact:                                                                                                          
Sherriene Jones-Sontag
Office of Speaker Melvin Neufeld
785/296-2302

Carolyn Gaughan
KAFP Executive Director
316/721-9005


Topeka – The Kansas Academy of Family Physicians (KAFP) bestowed its 2008 President’s Award today to Speaker of the House of Representatives Melvin Neufeld (R-Ingalls) for his work in health care reform.

  As KAFP President Terry L. Mills, MD, FAAFP presented the award to Speaker Neufeld; he expressed the organization’s gratitude for the Speaker’s leadership in the Kansas Legislature and for his years of work to achieve meaningful health reforms in the state.

  “During the 2008 session, Speaker Neufeld personally championed two matters of particular priority to the Academy: defining the physician-directed medical home in Kansas Statues and expanding Medicaid coverage up to 200% of the federal poverty level for pregnant women – and, at last, including dental care and smoking cessation services in this benefit.  Further, despite restraints in state revenues, he saw to it that start-up funding of $1.5 million was included in the Omnibus Appropriations budget,” Dr. Mills said.  “This award is a small, but genuine, token of our thanks for all your efforts to better ensure quality health care for all Kansas citizens.”

  Speaker Neufeld thanked the Academy for the recognition but said there is still more work to do when it comes to reforming health care in Kansas.

  “Kansas faces a number of health care issues like un-reimbursed care, uninsured populations and improving access.  While addressing these issues and others will take time, I believe it is important to our state’s future,” Speaker Neufeld said.  “Improving our health care system will make our state healthier both physically and fiscally.”

   KAFP had hoped to present the award to Speaker Neufeld at its annual meeting in June but the Speaker was unable to attend the meeting.