President's Perspective – Join Us at Advocacy Day to Prepare for the 2024 Legislative Session
(Dec. 8, 2023) – As we reflect on 2023, we are grateful for our members and the work they do for their patients and communities. As we head into the new year, we continue to hear about financial and workforce challenges facing our industry. There is optimism mixed with uncertainty. That is why the Kansas Hospital Association continues to focus on working with partners and stakeholders, from across the state, to help build coalitions to solve challenges hospitals face every day.
As we prepare for the 2024 state legislative session, slated to start on Jan. 8, the Kansas Hospital Association is excited to invite you to join us at our Annual KHA Advocacy Day. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Jan. 16. Online registration is available. We will use this opportunity to get association members up to speed on all the issues anticipated in 2024. Attendees also will hear from statewide elected officials about the latest developments. And, again this year, we tour the statehouse so you can see the beauty of our state capitol and visit with your policymakers directly about the issues important to your hospital.
The lunch with legislators will be a come-and-go opportunity to connect, so we highly encourage you to reach out to them to set meetings for the afternoon of Jan 16. You can use the online KHA Advocacy Tool to find and contact your state legislators in the House and Senate before you arrive in Topeka. If you need assistance accessing the tool, please contact the KHA office.
We are also excited to honor the graduates of our first-ever KHA Advocacy All-Stars program. These individuals are ready to put their skills to work, advocating for the needs of Kansas hospitals. Please join me in congratulating the inaugural Advocacy All-Star class:
- Casey Cockrum, managing director, FORVIS
- Linsey Coster, vice president of operations, Ascension Via Christi Hospitals
- Sara Davison, quality and care management, Lindsborg Community Hospital
- Sandy Dickerson, administrator and chief executive officer, Greenwood County Hospital
- Emersen Frazier, director of health equity and policy, Stormont Vail Health
- Charles Griffith, clinic director, Smith County Memorial Hospital
- Brian Howells, administrator, Wamego Health Center
- Jalin Johnson, director of operations, Minneola Healthcare
- Angie Johnson, chief nursing officer, Memorial Health System
- Allison Koonce, community outreach and engagement supervisor, LMH Health
- Marissa Murphy, critical care unit, NMC Health
- Monica Natzke, vice president, chief nursing officer, AdventHealth South Overland Park
- Jennifer Newton, chief nursing officer, Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
- Courtney Schmelzle, community relations coordinator, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital
- Curt Sudbeck, director of ancillary services, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital
We look forward to seeing you at the KHA Advocacy Day on Jan. 16, in Topeka, to learn about the issues, meet with elected officials and recognize our KHA Advocacy All-Stars!
--Chad Austin