(June 6, 2025) – Last week, the Kansas Hospital Association's Board of Directors held its annual retreat and board meeting. This event allows the board to delve deeper into health care issues affecting Kansas hospitals and the health care industry. To begin the retreat, the board had the chance to hear from Michelle Mader, managing director, Ankura. Michelle provided an overview of the current state of health care in the U.S. and highlighted key trends and challenges that will shape our industry. In addition, the KHA Board received a briefing from Ashley Thompson, senior vice president, public policy analysis and development, American Hospital Association. Her comments regarding the future of the hospital industry and the current political landscape came on the heels of the U.S. House of Representatives passing the budget reconciliation bill. Ashley highlighted several pressing policy issues facing the hospital industry that included site-neutral payments, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, drug manufacturers' pricing and health insurer accountability. Like KHA, protecting the financial stability of rural and urban hospitals is also a major advocacy priority for AHA.
A significant portion of the KHA Board Retreat leaned into workforce and exploring opportunities for KHA to assist in building the health care pipeline and increasing retention among Kansas hospitals. A sustainable and skilled workforce is among Kansas organizations' most demanding challenges, including hospitals. Organizations must innovate and collaborate outside of traditional partnerships to meet current and future workforce needs.
KHA staff presented an overview of the workforce trends and statistics in Kansas. Ed O'Malley, president and CEO, Kansas Health Foundation, assisted in moderating a discussion on future opportunities to build the pipeline and increase retention. Presentations by Blake Flanders, president and CEO, Kansas Board of Regents and Craig Deao, managing director, Huron Consulting, provided additional workforce data and trends. A few themes that arose during the pipeline discussion focused on recruiting non-traditional students and foreign-trained health care professionals, as well as leveraging programs such as apprenticeships and career pathways.
Highlights from the retention conversation revolved around leadership training for hospital staff and exploring innovative staffing models and wellness programs. KHA staff will review all suggestions offered and summarize the recommendations for the KHA Board.
The KHA Board held its official board meeting to cap off the retreat to discuss several upcoming events and emerging issues. A few of the highlights are bulleted below:
- Reviewed the results of the 2025 KHA Board self-assessment.
- Appointed Sandy Dickerson, administrator and CEO, Greenwood County Hospital, Eureka, to the KHA Board of Directors.
- Recognized Ruth Duling, CEO, Girard Medical Center, Girard, for her service on the KHA Board and her upcoming retirement.
- Approved two new community hospital memberships for Kansas Medical Center, Andover, and Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Inc., Fort Scott. In addition, four associate memberships were approved for: Cascade Health, Critical Marketing, Marting Law, LLC and RehabVisions.
- Noted the KHA Audit Reports conducted by Wendling Noe Nelson & Johnson.
- Received the latest updates on federal and state advocacy efforts. KHA staff highlighted the 2025 Kansas legislative session, including issues related to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, hospital provider assessment program, workforce initiatives and state budget allocations for the health care industry. On the federal level, KHA staff reported on the latest activities regarding the budget reconciliation discussions, Medicare Advantage, the 340B Drug Discount Program and the disproportionate share program.
- Adopted the KHA financial and investment report.
- Reviewed the latest activities involving health care finance and reimbursement that covered the Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule, the all-payer scorecard and the rural wage index program.
- Discussed member and public communications, including the financial awareness campaign.
- Received information on the KHA Political Advocacy Committee fundraising activities, including the upcoming events involving golf, tours and several other activities.
- Heard an update from the KHA education department on the preparations for the 2025 KHA Convention and Trade Show.
- Received information on several quality and safety activities, including the Kansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative, Be the Light grant-funded program and Healthy Kansas Hospitals mini-grant program.
Thanks to KHA Board Chair George Stover, CEO, Rice Community Health, Lyons, for leading us through some important yet challenging discussions. And, thanks to the entire KHA Board for their excellent leadership.
--Chad Austin