LJWorld.com

Westwood — Saying his goal is to ensure Kansans have access to affordable health insurance and medical care by 2010, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Barnett outlined a plan that includes creating a one-stop shopping center for insurance coverage and reducing medical malpractice lawsuits.

Barnett, an Emporia physician and state senator challenging Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in the Nov. 7 general election, unveiled his "Kansas Health Connector" plan during a news conference Tuesday. A key part of the proposal is modeled in part on a universal health insurance plan adopted this year in Massachusetts.

His proposal would create a "quasi-state entity" through which most private insurance companies would sell health policies. Kansans would then purchase their policies through the "Connector," paying their premiums to it.

"What this will create is an individual consumer-driven marketplace for the purchase of health care insurance," Barnett said during a news conference at a building being renovated for a new cancer center for the University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Campus.

He said the plan would be "sort of like a stock exchange, a farmers market for health insurance."

Barnett said his plan would allow individuals and companies to purchase policies with money that wouldn't be taxed. The individuals would own the policy that they could take from job to job. He said the insurance companies would remain regulated by the Department of Insurance.

"By providing choice and ease of looking at the product and competition, we can help control costs and make this product available to more Kansans," Barnett said. "With competition and choice, yes there will be better pricing."

Sebelius, seeking her second term, has said repeatedly that improving Kansans' access to health care is a top issue for her. The state has about 300,000 uninsured residents and Barnett said his plan will allow half of them to get affordable insurance without requiring a tax increase.

In 2004, Sebelius proposed increasing tobacco taxes by $50 million a year to finance an expansion of the Medicaid program, which provides health care for the poor and disabled. The plan also would have subsidized private plans for businesses with low-wage employees. However, the proposal never received much legislative support.

Sebelius' supporters responded Tuesday by releasing a list of 10 health-related initiatives Sebelius supported. Spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said the governor has been disappointed by the Republican-controlled Legislature's inaction.

"Governor Sebelius has worked to make health care more accessible and affordable for Kansans," she said. "The governor believes there's a lot more we can do together."

Also Tuesday, Sebelius released her sixth television ad - talking about her accomplishments and saying, "I'm disappointed my opponent seems determined to run another negative campaign."

That follows Barnett's ad last week in which he said Sebelius proposed driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. Corcoran said the governor endorsed the idea but never proposed it; she also has said a 2005 law has made the issue moot.