The Kansas Court of Appeals said Friday that financial records of a county-owned hospital are subject to the Kansas Open Records Act, even if the hospital is administered on contract by an outside nonprofit corporation.
The case involved the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg. In 2001, the hospital's board signed a lease agreement with Great Plains of Kiowa County Inc. to administer the hospital.
Great Plains, which was formed for the sole purpose of operating the Kiowa County Hospital, is a subsidiary of Great Plains Health Alliance Inc., another nonprofit corporation, but the court noted the two entities have identical officers and directors.