By KALEY LYON

Hays Daily News

Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., received a warm welcome at Hays Medical Center on Monday evening.

He was the guest of honor at a town hall-style meeting with Kansas Hospital Association members.

Approximately 40 physicians, administrators and board members representing hospitals across the state were in attendance to discuss medical care funding.

"Health-care costs, I think, is the No. 1 issue we face in this country," Moran said. "I think the House, the Senate, the president, the administration, the think-tanks, the hospital association ... everyone ought to be coming together to try to find ways to at least slow the ever-escalating cost of health care."

There are 75 hospitals in Kansas' First District, and Moran said he has visited all of them at least once and values the relationships he's formed with health care professionals.

Funding for health care has been a hot congressional topic for several years. Topics discussed Monday included the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.

This program, which was approved last week by the House and Senate, has provided health care to 35,000 Kansas children.

"I support reauthorization of SCHIP, and I hope Congress can get its act together in regard to a reasonable plan to do that," Moran said, adding he believes the program has been successful.

Cuts in Medicare reimbursement also were discussed. This issue especially is important to rural areas such as western Kansas. In some counties, about 90 percent of patients are Medicare-based, Moran said.

"If we cut Medicare reimbursement in that setting, what is it the hospital can do to keep their doors open?" he said.

Availability of health care is critical for the future of Kansas, Moran said.

"It doesn't take long to realize that, if you want a future for any community in Kansas, access to health care is an important component," he said. "Young families will not take the risk of raising their families where they cannot access health care."

Moran's speech was followed by a lengthy question-and-answer session, during which everything from funding to retention of qualified physicians was discussed.

"I want to say how fortunate we are to have you representing us," said Susan Page, chief executive officer of Pratt Regional Medical Center.

The statement was followed by a burst of applause before Page proceeded to discuss physician reimbursement.

The Kansas Hospital Association consists of members representing 125 community hospitals, as well as health insurance companies and health care vendors, according to the organization's Web site.

The group usually meets in Topeka. Monday was the first opportunity Hays has had to host such an event, said John Jeter, chief executive officer of Hays Medical Center.

Jeter said the event, which attracted many visitors, was a good opportunity for HMC.

"We had people from places in the state that had never been here before," he said.

Reporter Kaley Lyon can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 138, or by e-mail at

klyon@dailynews.net.