By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! The attorney general has accused Aetna in court of misusing funds it gets from the State Employees Health plan. The lawsuit comes on the heels of state officials threatening to drop Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and leave state employees with Aetna as their only choice.
We're also reporting on the ballot question on electing Supreme Court justices, Kansas tightening voting rules, challenges to the state's anti-trans laws, the Kanas Farm Bureau's endorsement of Vicki Schmidt, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions on birthright citizenship and transgender athletes.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kobach sues Kansas employee insurer Aetna for ‘misappropriating’ state funds
TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a lawsuit accusing Aetna Inc. of “misappropriating” state funds through a mechanism found to violate federal law in other court cases, an allegation the health insurer denies.
Amber Smith, deputy attorney general of the Public Protection Unit, said Aetna failed in its fiduciary duty and has “chosen to misappropriate Kansas funds to pay itself.”
Aetna is a third-party administrator for the State Employee Health plan, serving along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.
The lawsuit, filed June 24 in Shawnee County District Court, alleges that Aetna used a billing process called “cross-plan offsetting” to pay itself back using state money when Aetna overpays providers in unrelated insurance plans, a news release from Kobach’s office said.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
OPINION
Despite amendment claims, Kansans already have a voice in who sits on the state Supreme Court
By John Francis
On Aug. 4, Kansans will vote on a constitutional amendment to determine how we select Supreme Court justices. The proposed amendment would eliminate our current merit-based selection process, replacing it with a popular election. The details of the proposal will be worked out later by the state Legislature.
Increasing democratic participation in government is a laudable goal — certainly one that must be promoted when selecting lawmakers and top executive branch officials. This ensures that creation and implementation of laws reflect the will of the people. But the job of a Supreme Court justice is different.
Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch
More states tighten voting rules ahead of midterm elections
At least nine states have passed voting laws this year that will make it more difficult for some voters to cast their ballots during the midterm elections in November.
Lawmakers in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia passed laws between January and May of this year restricting access to voting, according to an analysis of publicly available data by the Brennan Center and the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley.
Challenge to Kansas anti-trans law heads to appeal while two more cases face consolidation
TOPEKA — Pivotal court cases challenging laws that have altered the lives of transgender Kansans are approaching turning points, as one moves to a higher court and two others face consolidation.
Kansas Farm Bureau PAC endorses Vicki Schmidt in GOP gubernatorial primary
TOPEKA — The Kansas Farm Bureau’s political action committee endorsed state Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
US Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump order
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday struck down President Donald Trump’s attempt to redefine the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.
US Supreme Court upholds transgender athlete bans in Idaho, West Virginia
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday kept in place state laws banning transgender athletes from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
1 p.m. July 11, South Branch Library in Kansas City, Kansas. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone joins a panel discussion: "Elected vs Appointed: Inform Your Choice." Hosts: Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, and El Centro.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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