Topic: CHIP-children's health insurance program

Interview of Kim Moore, May 7, 2026

Interviewed by Robert St. Peter

Kim Moore was the President of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund for 31 years. He started out as a lawyer with a large Wichita law firm trying to save banks from regulators in the 1980's, but yearned for "something he could be passionate about." He saw that possibility in the Health Ministry Fund position so he moved his family to Hutchinson and "took a big risk" (and a big pay cut) that this foundation would be a way to align his spiritual views with practical opportunities including oral health, a safety net, rural health, access to care, Show Moreearly childhood programs and hospice care, to name a few. His interview details how the foundation's programs developed and the coalitions he created with communities and organization across the state as well as the battles they fought. After leaving the Health Ministry Fund in 2018, Moore continued as a consultant to non-profit groups.

Highlights -- short excerpts from the interview

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Interview of Brenda Landwehr, May 5, 2026

Interviewed by Robert St. Peter

Brenda Landwehr went to the Legislature to solve problems. She didn't shy away from the tough ones, either. "I've always been one of those people that it's like, put up or shut up. You can only complain so long." So, she "jumped in with both feet" to the Legislative Health Academy, learned a lot, and at the end of the day, the participants had a great dialogue. Brenda tackled foster care privatization, trying to get the judges to participate. She chaired the Mental Health Modernization Committee and the Joint Committee on Children's Issues. Show More Child behavioral health issues became a passion for her and she started a pilot program in six districts around Kansas. During her second stint in the legislature she was chairing important committees that dealt with the state budget and Medicaid. After 22 years of public service, Landwehr remains one of the most knowledgeable people about health policy issues. Her interview is a good read! Show Less

Interview of Kari Bruffett, May 5, 2026

Interviewed by Robert St. Peter

This interview contains substantive discussions about health policy changes that have been occurring the last 25 years. Interviewer Bob St. Peter explores Bruffett's interesting career, mostly in Kansas, mostly in health policy, although she started in Washington DC working for Senator Nancy Kassebaum during her final two years in the Senate. Bruffett then joined the staff of newly elected Rep. Jerry Moran, but after 4 years was ready to return to Kansas. She worked with Koch Industries before becoming the Executive Director of the Kansas Republican Party for 4 years. She went to the University Show Moreof Kansas Hospital Authority which was in the middle of a huge transition and navigating its relationship with the medical school. After those years she turned to state government. working on numerous issues such as Medicaid expansion estimates and KanCare. She was asked to be Secretary of the Department for Aging and Disability Services - KDADS. She ended up at the Kansas Health Institute, following St. Peter after he retired. Show Less