(Oct. 17, 2025) – During the past two weeks, Kansas Hospital Association staff have been traveling across the state, hosting our semi-annual district meetings. These gatherings allow KHA members to network with peers and discuss several hot-topic issues facing Kansas hospitals. Besides the timely and informative information shared, the most rewarding part is always the dialogue and feedback during the meetings. This round of district meetings saw record-breaking attendance. Thank you to all our members who participated.
Each KHA district meeting began with KHA Board members providing updates on the latest discussions happening at the board level. Over the past year, the KHA Board has focused on refining the 2025-2027 KHA Strategic Plan and its four strategic priorities: Advocacy and Regulation; Finance and Reimbursement; Health Care Workforce; and Quality and Safety. Recently, the KHA Board members highlighted the association's efforts on the hospital provider assessment program and the development of the guiding principles for the Rural Health Transformation Program. At several district meetings, KHA members expressed appreciation for the Board's leadership and the association’s work.
The next topic discussed focused on KHA's efforts to develop and retain a healthy workforce. Several new strategies recommended by the KHA Board were shared, including the development of a "stay interview" toolkit and enhanced training programs for middle managers. The district meeting attendees showed their support for several ideas and offered additional best practices to consider. Additionally, the Health Care Upskilling and Training Grant Program and the Apprenticeship opportunities were topics of interest.
Attendees also received the latest updates on KHA Advocacy's efforts, including work at the state level on 340B and behavioral health. Both topics are expected to be addressed during the upcoming legislative session. A special request was made for every KHA member to contact their elected officials before the 2026 legislative session. As always, the KHA team is ready to assist with those connections. A federal update was also shared, emphasizing the importance of extending the enhanced premium tax credits and several targeted programs that expired at the end of September. KHA remains actively engaged with our congressional delegation to ensure the unified voice of hospitals is heard. The district meeting attendees also provided feedback and recommendations on the Rural Health Transformation Program. There continues to be strong interest from KHA members in participating in this process to ensure Kansas submits a comprehensive and competitive application.
The next topic of discussion focused on quality and safety. This is one of the four strategic priorities in the KHA Strategic Plan. Initiatives to improve maternal health were highlighted, along with the Kansas Cuff Project, an initiative to provide self-monitoring blood pressure devices for KanCare patients. KHA also mentioned the upcoming release of the model medical staff bylaws.
KHA also engaged with the newest initiatives related to finance and reimbursement. Many activities are taking place in this area. KHA initiated the discussion by addressing clinically integrated networks and their various requirements. Additional topics discussed included the latest results of the KHA Payor Scorecard and the available KHA resources to handle the constantly changing insurance-related requirements.
Lastly, we highlighted how members can engage with and influence the association's work through our KHA boards and committees. Serving on KHA committees is a key part of members' contributions to the organization. During the district meetings, members also had the chance to support the KHA-Political Action Committee by taking part in the Cornhole Challenge. Congratulations to our top statewide winners, including:
- Lauria Labarca, Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc., St. Francis – 16 bullseyes
- Benjamin Anderson, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center – 16 bullseyes
- Dawn Unruh, Meade District Hospital/Artesian Valley Health System – 14 bullseyes
The district meetings raised $1,377 for the KHA-PAC! By the way, the South Central district won the district competition. We want to thank everyone who participated in supporting these efforts.
If you missed these meetings, the slides are available online. As always, we thank our sponsors, the Kansas Health Service Corporation, APS and KAMMCO, for supporting another successful round of district meetings. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended and provided valuable feedback! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. .
--Chad Austin