(
March 27, 2026) – Earlier this week, the Kansas Hospital Association's Board of Directors met in Topeka to discuss several timely and important topics affecting the association and KHA members, including the latest advocacy issues at both the state and federal levels. The Kansas Legislature has officially adjourned the regular session of the 2026 Kansas legislative cycle. Legislators are now returning to their districts and will reconvene in Topeka for the veto session, scheduled to begin on April 9. During this legislative break, it is an ideal time for KHA members to connect with their Kansas House and Senate representatives to discuss key issues, such as 340B contract pharmacy protections, that matter most to you and your community.
The KHA Board had the chance to hear from Harold Miller, president and CEO of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, about the January 2026 report titled "Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closure." Over the past decade, more than 100 rural hospitals in the U.S. have closed, including five in Kansas since 2020. Mr. Miller's findings examined how public and private insurance affect the financial stability of hospitals. The KHA Board discussed Mr. Miller's report and reviewed potential initiatives to better understand the challenges faced by Kansas hospitals.
Additional highlights from the March board meeting are listed below:
- Welcomed Tanner Wealand, president and CEO of the McPherson Center for Health in McPherson, to the KHA Board.
- Approved appointments of George Stover, CEO of Rice Community Health in Lyons, as the KHA Board-appointed representative on the American Hospital Association's Regional Policy Board, and Carrie Lutz, CEO of Holton Community Hospital in Holton, to the Kansas Health Services Corporation Board.
- Received a recap from Sarah Teaff, CEO of Patterson Health Center in Anthony, and David McCorkle, CEO of Citizens Health in Colby, regarding the recent American Hospital Association's Regional Policy Board and Rural Health Task Force meetings.
- Approved the KHA membership applications for the listed organizations.
- South Central Mental Health Hospital, Wichita.
- BatteryXChange, Charlotte, NC.
- FreshCo, Hutchinson.
- Interstaff Inc., Austin, TX.
- OneDigital, Overland Park.
- RadSource Imaging Technologies, Inc., Kansas City, MO.
- Quest539 Workplace Savings Program, Shawnee.
- Adopted the KHA financial report.
- Discussed the Rural Health Transformation Program and the possible role that KHA/HealthWorks could have in parts of the program.
- Received an update on the latest KHA advocacy efforts at both the federal and state levels, including price transparency and 340B.
- Discussed activities related to health care finance, including hospital credentialing, provider assessment and the potential Area Wage Index project.
- Highlighted KHA's quality and safety initiatives, including the culture of safety toolkit, Hepatitis B vaccine initiative and the Be the Light Initiative.
- Reviewed the KHA Awards Program and accepted the recommendation to recognize the "Board of the Year" instead of an individual hospital trustee.
- Received an update on the 2026 public perception campaign: "Champions Together" that will be executed statewide in June.
- Heard a recap of the 2026 Virtual Health Care Career Day and other workforce-related activities.
- Approved the dates and locations for the 2029-2032 KHA Convention.
- Received an update on the fundraising status and upcoming activities of the KHA Political Advocacy Campaign.
As always, please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or need assistance with any matters affecting your hospital. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming KHA District Meetings.
--Chad Austin