President's Perspective – Educating Kansans on Health Care Affordability

Last week, I circulated an opinion editorial, Making Health Care More Affordable Will Take All of Us. KHA also has distributed resources to help tell the hospital story on price transparency and 340B. I encourage you to contact KHA if you need additional resources or assistance on any of these topics.

KHA Leadership Institute Graduates 29

The KHA Leadership Institute graduated its 24th class of 29 students on Sept. 11 at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Overland Park. Students were nominated by their hospital's CEO to be part of this select group.

Emergency Department Mental Health Trends Report

KDHE's Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics has released the Mental Health Trends Report to share trends in emergency department visits for anxiety and depression at Kansas hospitals.

Preparing for Electronic Prior Authorizations

AHA recently launched a new AHA prior authorization webpage featuring resources and tools to help hospitals prepare for upcoming electronic prior authorization requirements taking effect Jan. 1, 2027. In addition, they are hosting a webinar, Preparing for Electronic Prior Authorization: A Fireside Chat with AHA, Epic, MEDITECH and Oracle Health on Nov. 17.

2026 Kansas Opioid and Stimulant Conference – Nov. 3

Attendees will learn about medical approaches to treating stimulant disorder, how to establish an addiction coordinator consult service, how to integrate MOUD into primary care, prescriber experiences with substance use disorder care and how to strengthen systems of care for perinatal SUD.

careLearning Informational Webinar – Nov. 24

careLearning is a web-based educational tool for member hospitals across the country. This cost-effective learning solution ensures all employees can access required regulatory training and hundreds of health care-related courses.

KDHE Health Alert on Adult Management of Syphilis During the Bicillin L-A® Shortage

This week, KDHE issued an alert to the Health Alert Network on the management of adult syphilis due to the ongoing shortage of Bicillin L-A (benzathine penicillin G).

Federal and National News

Learn more about Transparency and Affordability Reforms, Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries and Loss of Medicaid Enrollment Due to Working Families Tax Cut Legislation, Nov. 19 Deadline for Comments on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Initial Interdisciplinary Team Meeting Requirement, Q2 FY 2026 PEPPER for Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals, Help Detect Breast Cancer Early and Transparency and Affordability Reforms in Medicare Advantage and Part D.