Communications

View Full Issue (PDF)

November 22, 2024

President's Perspective – Our Strategic Aim is Advancing Health in Kansas
A few years ago, the KHA Board of Directors added a new element, a Strategic Aim, while developing KHA's strategic plan. Today, I want to summarize KHA's work and outcomes related to the strategic aim over the last several years.

Legislative Dinners Begin
These dinners are designed for hospital leadership, staff and board members to speak with elected officials and their staff about important issues. We hope you will engage with policymakers while KHA is in your area.

Compensation Strategies in Health Care: Trends, Insights and Future Planning – Dec. 11
Join KHA for an educational webinar when Gallagher Surveys will provide valuable insights into the compensation trends affecting hospitals and health care organizations.

The KHA-PAC Has Extra Reason to Be Thankful This Year – YOU DID IT!
The KHA-PAC has an extra reason to be thankful. We reached our two-year $168,000 fundraising goal ahead of Thanksgiving. As KHA staff goes around the Thanksgiving table, we will say a special "THANKS" for all of the support that made this audacious goal possible! 
 

Excellence in Workforce Strategies – Comprehensive Approach Yields Great Nurse Retention and Recruitment
This series shares best practices from hospital teams that have significantly contributed to the well-being, retention, and recruitment of health care workers at their facilities. This week, KHA features the Nursing Recruitment Team at the University of Kansas Health System, Overland Park.

Webinar on BCBS Providers Class Action Settlement Dec. 11
KHSC is hosting a webinar at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, to discuss the landmark $2.8 billion Blue Cross Blue Shield Providers Class Action settlement, the claims process and how this class action can affect your organization.

Out-of-State Medicaid Enrollment and Billing Best Practices Webinar – Dec. 17
Join KHA for an educational webinar when Elevate Patient Financial Solutions will review general requirements and best practices for OOS Medicaid in Kansas and neighboring states.

Kansas Crisis Standards of Care Guidance for Hospitals, Version 2, Now Available
KDHE's Preparedness Program recently released the Kansas Crisis Standards of Care Guidance for Hospitals, Version 2, in PDF format, and is now available on KDHE and KHA websites.

CY 2023 Hardship Exception Application Deadline Nov. 30
For the CY 2023 reporting period, eligible hospitals and CAHs must use 2015 Edition Cures Update certified electronic health record technology to meet the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program requirements. 

HFMA and KHA All Payers Workshop – Dec. 12-13
This workshop includes presentations from the Kansas Division of Workers' Compensation, WPS, Veterans Administration, Optum, CMS Regional Office, KHA, commercial and Medicare Advantage insurers, KDHE, KanCare managed care organizations and GPHA.

KHC and KHA to Release Issue Briefs on Emergency Department Visits
KHC and KHA are partnering to release a series of issue briefs on Emergency Department visits in Kansas, using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Emergency Department Prevention Quality Indicators.

New Resource Available from the Kansas Fire Marshal
The Office of the State Fire Marshal has developed a tool for all health care facilities to organize and retain fire safety documentation.

Valuable Pathways Recognized During National Apprenticeship Week
In addition to the activities celebrating Rural Health Week, this past week was National Apprenticeship Week. Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation declaring Nov 18-22 as Apprenticeship Week in Kansas.

External Webinars/Resources for OPPS/MPFS Final Rules
On Nov. 1, CMS released the CY 2025 OPPS and Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rules. If you want to learn more about these updates, we encourage you to review KHA's final rule summaries and consider participating in these educational opportunities.

DEA and HHS Extend Telemedicine Flexibilities for Controlled Substances through 2025
After issuing its proposed telemedicine rules in 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration received more than 38,000 comments and held two public listening sessions.

APS Welcomes Vigilor from TRIMEDX to Its Roster of Services Provided to Hospitals
APS is hosting a webinar at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, for a new vendor, Vigilor from TRIMEDX, that offers services to help identify and mitigate cybersecurity and patient safety risks associated with connected medical devices.

Federal and National News
This week's topics include CDC Issues Health Advisory for First Case of Clade I Mpox Diagnosed in the U.S. and MLN Connects Provider eNews. 

Please note: Because of Thanksgiving, the next issue of KHA's
Current Report will be published early on Wednesday, Nov. 27.