Lieutenant Governor stops at Newman Regional Health for meeting, tour

Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers (left) answers questions from Newman Regional Health’s administrative team as NRH Facilities Director Harold Blits observes Friday.Chuck Samples/KVOE News

Newman Regional Health administrators welcomed Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers for a short visit Friday.

Rogers leads the Office of Rural Prosperity, which is tasked with developing policies to bolster rural economic development in several categories, including health care. He says high-quality health care — and ready access to it — are vital for both the state and local economies.

Rogers listened to CEO Bob Wright and other administrators give details about the local hospital, including the Critical Access care model and the need for more emergency mental health housing at the state level.Rogers also updated the hospital’s administrative team on Governor Laura Kelly’s plans to expand Medicaid. He says the Kelly administration has just under $15 million aside for that effort, and he says critics are underestimating the financial benefits that could come to the state if Medicaid expansion is approved. The ultimate goal, he says, is to provide the best care possible as close to home as possible.Rogers’ stop included a 45-minute meeting with hospital administrators and a tour of the new emergency department complex.

Content retrieved from: http://www.kvoe.com/news/item/42069-lieutenant-governor-stops-at-newman-regional-health-for-meeting-tour.