Kansas University Medical Center, St. Luke’s Hospital and KU Hospital are involved in a major wrestling match in Kansas City.

The KU Hospital used to be part of the KU Medical Center. However, several years ago, it became an independent, stand-alone hospital although it maintained very close ties to the KU Medical Center, which includes the KU School of Medicine.

Money always has been an issue, with those at the medical center believing they should receive more fiscal support from KU Hospital. This has become an even greater issue since the hospital, with its new independent status and the leadership of Irene Cumming, has been growing and making far more money.

In addition to money, there is the problem of egos, turf battles, state lines, empire building and the question of whether a tax-supported facility like KU Medical Center should have any association with a Kansas City, Mo., hospital that could adversely affect the KU Hospital.

The battle lines were drawn some time ago. Lining up in support of a closer association between the KU Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital were Barbara Atkinson, executive vice chancellor of the medical center; probably Chancellor Robert Hemenway; several well-known Kansas City, Mo., business leaders such as Irv Hockaday and Bill Hall; perhaps former State Sen. David Adkins, who now is at the medical center; and officials at St. Luke’s.

St. Luke’s needs the relationship with the KU School of Medicine far more than KU needs St. Luke’s. If such a deal is approved, St. Luke’s would be a winner, but the benefits are very questionable for KU Hospital and a number of clinicians at the KU medical center.

Definitely left on the outside is Cumming, who has done a top-flight job in developing the KU Hospital, attracting new businesses, adding new facilities and making a profit.

Within a few days, this issue will be the subject of a Kansas Legislative Budget Committee meeting in Topeka. Kansas lawmakers, many of whom have been left in the dark, want to know what is going on.

They are not the only ones.

Former State Sen. Dick Bond, a Johnson County resident who now serves as chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, was asked whether the regents were going to get involved in the hospital situation given that the KU Medical Center is supported by Kansas taxpayers and is part of the Board of Regents system.

Bond told the Journal-World it was fine with him if the regents haven’t been included in the discussion, saying, “We and the Legislature know the same amount – practically nothing. We’re not going to micromanage.”

He added, “I can’t say we have been briefed fully” and that he is leaving this situation to the “pros.”

“This is monstrous, and it is highly technical and it is very sensitive to multiple organizations over which the regents have no authority,” he said. “We only, in fact, have authority over the chancellor.”

It is difficult to understand the reasoning of Bond and perhaps other regents who apparently think it is all right for them to turn their backs on the situation with KU Hospital, KU Medical Center and St. Luke’s. The KU Medical Center plays a vital role in Kansas. It is reported that 52 percent of the doctors practicing in Kansas graduated from or completed their residencies there, along with a huge number of nurses and other medical professionals.

What about Kansas legislators who appropriate the dollars to fund the medical center? Shouldn’t they have an interest in what is going on, or are they also going to turn their backs on this matter and let the chancellor do whatever he wishes?

It’s obvious this planning has been done in relative secrecy. The KU Hospital and many of its doctors have been deliberately left in the dark.

Now the chairman of the Board of Regents says he doesn’t know much about what is going on and doesn’t think the Regents need to have a voice in the matter. At what point should the regents concern themselves with what is going on? When should state lawmakers be aware of what is going on?

With the role the medical center and hospital play in the health care of Kansas residents, along with the hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated for the medical complex, isn’t it reasonable to think the regents and state legislators should have a firm understanding of what is going on?

What do the regents do? Merely meet to determine whether the chancellor and presidents are doing a good job and then adjourn?

This is a defining moment for the state of Kansas. This matter deserves the utmost attention by the regents and legislators. It is not a matter of micromanaging. There is little if any precedent for Kansas going outside the state to pursue such a profound economic infusion. Maybe it is a good deal, but, so far, it looks like a well-planned back-room deal.