(Jan. 19, 2024) – Earlier this week, hospital leaders and advocates from across the state braved the cold temperatures, traveling to Topeka, to participate in Kansas Hospital Association's Advocacy Day. This annual event provides KHA members an opportunity to connect with their elected officials. Governor Laura Kelly welcomed attendees and highlighted the importance of the health care sector and the need to support Kansas hospitals. She reiterated her ardent support to strengthen rural Kansas communities, including their local hospitals, through policy initiatives such as Medicaid expansion. Attendees also heard from elected officials including Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Senate President Ty Masterson, House Majority Leader Chris Croft, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Janet Stanek. Each of the presenters shared their support for Kansas hospitals and their willingness to explore health care policies during the 2024 legislative session.
One of the highlights of KHA Advocacy Day focuses on the luncheon opportunity for Kansas hospital leaders to meet with their state elected officials. Several of the advocacy topics emphasized by the KHA membership revolved around ensuring financial viability, promoting health care workforce opportunities and reducing the administrative burdens imposed by health insurance organizations through polices such as prior authorization and credentialing. While KHA Advocacy Day is a key opportunity to meet our elected officials, it will be vitally essential Kansas hospital leaders continue to engage in advocacy efforts throughout the legislative session.
In addition to KHA Advocacy Day, this week marked the first opportunity for the 2024 KHA Board of Directors to meet. The KHA Board discussed advocacy efforts occurring on the state and federal level, the current status of KanCare's request-for-proposal and its potential impact on Kansas hospitals and the health care community.
Additional highlights from the KHA Board meeting included:
- Welcomed new KHA Board members:
- Jeremy Clingenpeel, CEO, Cheyenne County Hospital, Saint Francis
- Kiley Floyd, CEO, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca
- Sam Huenergardt, CEO, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Shawnee Mission
- Bob Moser, MD, executive director, Kansas Center for Rural Health, Salina
- Approved of several new KHA members to the following organizations and committees:
- HealthWorks: Robin Durrett, DO, Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Wichita
- Kansas Healthcare Collaborative: Twilla Lee, CEO, CommonSpirt St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City; and Joben Rieth, CEO, Coffey County Hospital, Burlington
- KHA Audit Committee Chairperson: Val Gleason, CEO, NMH Health, Newton
- Adopted the KHA finance and investment report
- Completed annual corporate compliance training
- Approved changes to the 2024 KHA Strategic Plan
- Learned about the KHA workforce initiatives, including the Virtual Health Care Career Fair, Feb. 1, in partnership with the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Department of Education
- Received the latest information on KHA activities in the areas of communication, education, KHA-PAC and advancing health
KHA thanks the KHA members who advocated for our priorities. The key to effective grassroots advocacy is the personal interaction between elected officials and their constituents. If you were unable to attend this year's KHA Advocacy Day, you can still become part of our grassroots advocacy team by meeting with your elected officials when they are in their home districts. Let us know how we can assist you in this endeavor!
--Chad Austin