A House committee next week will have meetings on the proposed affiliation between the Kansas University Medical Center, KU Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital.

“This is a dialogue to find out what is going on,” said Rep. Jim Morrison, R-Colby, and chairman of the Government Efficiency and Technology Committee. “There are a lot of rumors that need to be put to rest.”

The committee will receive a report from KU Hospital on Monday, the Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday and KUMC on Thursday. All meetings start at 3:30 p.m. and will be in room 526-South in the Capitol.

The meetings represent another attempt by state leaders to get information about the proposed affiliation.

Friday was the deadline, set last month by Kansas Board of Regents Chairman Nelson Galle, for KU leaders to submit answers to the regents about a variety of concerns raised by House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls. But the board didn’t make that information available to the public Friday.

Neufeld has said he has been dissatisfied with how the affiliation has proceeded and he has called on the regents to provide oversight of the plans.

KU officials have said the affiliation is needed to improve life sciences in the region. But some lawmakers and health care organizations have questioned whether the deal would hurt KU Hospital while bolstering a competing Missouri hospital, St. Luke’s. KU Hospital leaders have said they were shut out of negotiations between the school and St. Luke’s and that the plan could hurt them financially.

“Will it be good for Kansas or will it be bad for Kansas? That’s what we need to investigate,” Morrison said.

He described the meetings as a forum or dialogue. He said he was seeking information, not conflict.

The committee has little oversight over health or appropriations issues, but Morrison said its charge to seek government efficiencies fits with the question of whether the proposed affiliation would be a wise use of state resources.