(April 10, 2026) – The Kansas Hospital Association team has been traveling across the state as part of our 2026 KHA Spring District Tour. These meetings have been a valuable opportunity to connect with KHA members and discuss current and emerging issues facing Kansas hospitals. The ability to converse with our colleagues serves several purposes, including learning from one another and sharing our experiences. Thank you again to all our members who were able to join us.
The focus of this round of district meetings centered on several key topics, including the Rural Health Transformation Program. Each meeting began with an overview of Kansas' RHTP plan, highlighting areas where Kansas hospitals may engage. As we have reported, Kansas was awarded roughly $222 million in year one. These funds will support 24 programs organized into five initiatives: expand primary and secondary prevention programs; secure local access to primary care; build a sustainable rural health workforce; enable value-based care; and harness data and technology. It is anticipated that five grant programs, totaling $78.8 million, will be awarded in the first year. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has already received applications for the Regional Partnerships and REH Conversion/Transformative Capital Investment grant programs. Award announcements are expected throughout the next month. KHA members asked a variety of questions about the RHTP, including those related to grant programs, workforce initiatives, the evidence-based practice program and more. Thank you to KDHE and Care Collaborative team members who joined our KHA team for these presentations. KHA is committed to regularly updating the membership via email communications and member huddles as additional information becomes available. In the meantime, you can find the latest RHTP resources in a dedicated section on the KHA website.
District Meeting attendees also had the opportunity to hear the latest on KHA's advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels. On the federal side, members heard about recent budget deliberations and remaining policy issues, including site-neutral payment policies and price transparency. KHA also encouraged hospitals to take action by April 20 and submit comments on the 340B Rebate Program. On the state level, the focus centered on the legislative veto session that kicked off yesterday and is expected to wrap up soon. KHA also highlighted the upcoming elections and the need for members to engage those individuals running for office and to emphasize the priorities for Kansas hospitals.
KHA also spent part of the district meeting in a thoughtful discussion of potential strategies to address the finance and reimbursement issues facing KHA members. KHA reviewed initiatives implemented during the past 12-24 months, including the KHA Payer Scorecard, Payer Pulse newsletter, a financial awareness campaign and member toolkit, Medicare Advantage resources and other financial educational resources and policy briefs. KHA members expressed appreciation for those resources and suggested additional tactics, including reducing administrative burdens, addressing prior authorization denials and pursuing direct-to-employer contracting. KHA will continue to explore additional ways to support Kansas hospitals in these endeavors.
KHA members received information about the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City. This exciting event in the bi-state area will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. Toward that end, Kansas hospitals have already begun preparing for the influx of visitors and the accompanying health care demands. Lastly, KHA highlighted several member resources in quality and safety. If you haven't seen them yet, I highly recommend exploring the KHA Culture of Safety Toolkit, released earlier this year, as well as the updated Drug Diversion Prevention Toolkit and the new Drug Shortages Toolkit.
As you plan to attend future KHA gatherings, please mark your calendar for the 2026 Kansas Hospital Association Annual Convention and Trade Show, Unstoppable Together, Sept. 10-11, in Overland Park. As always, we greatly appreciate our KHA sponsors: Diamond-Level Sponsors: APS, KAMMCO and KHSC; Platinum-Level Sponsor: Qualivis. Thanks to all who attended our in-person district meetings. Your participation was much appreciated! Don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or need additional assistance. Meeting materials are now available online.
--Chad Austin