* Hearing Set On Kansas City School Transfers
* Sixth Lawmaker Test Upcoming On Missouri Robo Calls
* Deadline Nears On Missouri Rx Benefits Battle
Hearing Set On Kansas City School Transfers
There is a hearing scheduled tomorrow in Jackson County Circuit Court in the battle over student transfers from the soon-to-be-unaccredited Kansas City School District. Accreditation will be lost January 1st. Several suburban districts are trying to block movement of students out of Kansas City Schools. The five districts are seeking an order putting any transfers on hold until questions about tuition, eligibility and other issues are resolved.
Missouri law requires unaccredited districts to pay to send students to accredited districts within the same or an adjoining county. The petition by officials in Blue Springs, Independence, Lee's Summit, North Kansas City and Raytown says Kansas City's plans for covering the costs are inadequate.
Sixth Lawmaker Test Upcoming On Missouri Robo Calls
For the sixth year in a row, Missouri state Senators will consider legislation that would require “paid for” disclaimers on political robo-calls. Republican Scott Rupp of St. Louis is sponsoring the measure this year. He says the proposal has had success in the Senate in the past, but often runs into opposition in the state House.
In Rupp's words, “In the past, the way it was written, it could have ensnared some public opinion polling, and we didn’t want to do that. But typically it seems that there are some handful of people that like to use it that use it extensively that don’t want to see any changes to the system.”
Rupp’s legislation would also allow Missouri residents to put cell phones on the do not call list and prohibit certain automated calls to numbers on the list.
Deadline Nears On Missouri Rx Benefits Battle
The deadline for Eastern-Missouri based pharmacy benefits manager Express Scrips and Walgreens to reach a deal is fast approaching.
If the two companies cannot agree on reimbursement rates for drugs by the end of the year, those who carry Express Scrips will not be able to get their prescriptions filled at Walgreens.
With more than 7700 drug stores nationwide, Walgreens spokesman Michael Polzin says it could be a hardship for some customers.
Polzin said, “We are in urban areas and some rural areas where there are not other pharmacies, or if there are other pharmacies they have very limited hours versus our 24-hour access to a pharmacy and pharmacist, so I think access will definitely be an issue for some patients.”
But Express Scrips says there is a drugstore within a half mile of most Walgreens.