President's Perspective – Kansas Hospitals Advocate in Washington D.C.

This week, KHA members traveled to Washington, DC, for the AHA Annual Meeting and met with our congressional delegation. We thanked them for their help in pushing for CMS's approval of the state's provider tax. We also discussed our concerns about both old and emerging issues.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Preparedness Program Survey

KDHE requests your feedback regarding the Kansas Jurisdictional Risk Assessment. JRA is critical for identifying and prioritizing specific threats, and you represent your community. The survey will take about 15 minutes and will close at 6 p.m. on April 29.

Web, App Non-Discrimination Rule Timelines Extended, HHS Sec. 504 Rules Remain Unchanged

The Department of Justice published an interim final rule to delay compliance dates for states and local governments. This is not related to May 2026, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance deadlines for community hospitals under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as noted in this HHS Fact Sheet.

Hospital Week Challenge – Hospital Videos Due May 4

Hospital Week is May 10-16, 2026. This year's theme is Healing Happens Here. Check out our Hospital Week Toolkit and participate in our Hospital Week Dance Challenge. Please submit your videos by May 4.

Survey Readiness Part 3 – May 6

This webinar will offer information on nursing-related, environmental services and facility-related standards behind common deficiencies provided by a panel of peers from across the state and all hospital types.

ACHE of Kansas' Spring Education Session – May 6

Kansas health care leaders are encouraged to register for the ACHE of Kansas' Spring Education Session, which is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on May 6, at KAMMCO in Topeka. Non-ACHE members are also encouraged to attend.

Healthy Kansas Hospitals – Nutrition Policy in Action

CMS recently issued memo QSSAM-26-03-Hospital/CAH: Hospital Nutrition Service Obligations in Light of Updated Federal Nutrition Guidelines to remind hospitals of their obligations for patient food and nutrition services and to encourage facilities to use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.

Sustaining Rural Labor and Delivery Programs Webinar – May 4

Rural hospitals face ongoing financial and operational pressures that have contributed to the closure of many labor and delivery programs nationwide. This webinar will highlight practical strategies to help rural hospitals assess and strengthen the financial sustainability of these services.

Global Solutions to the U.S. Nursing Shortage: Policy, Recruitment and Collaboration – May 13 and 14

Offered free of charge from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 13 and 14, this symposium will explore data-driven trends, regulatory developments, integration challenges and actionable recommendations to enhance recruitment, retention and long-term workforce stability.

2026 Kansas Immunization Conference – May 20

This conference brings together participants from hospitals, physician offices, clinics, pharmacies, local health departments and beyond to strengthen partnerships and share best practices that protect Kansas communities.

Participate in the NSSRN

Invitations to complete the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses were recently mailed to selected nurses across the country. This is the longest-running survey and the primary source of data on the U.S. nursing workforce.

NEW! Drug Shortages Toolkit

Check out the new Drug Shortages Toolkit, designed to offer resources to help hospital and health system pharmacies integrate and apply best practices to manage and mitigate drug shortages.

New Resource Available: Cross-Setting: Falls with Major Injury Quality Measure Respecification

The training provides an overview of the legacy and respecified FMI Measure and discusses how the respecified measure incorporates both assessment and claims/encounter data in its specifications.

Slides and Recording for the CMS Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization Webinar

We are pleased to announce that the slides and recording from our April 16 webinar on the 2026 CMS Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization Proposed Rule are now available online.

Midwest HIDTA Bulletins – Nitazenes and 5-Fluoro-ADB

The Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area publishes "Hot Sheets" on its website to provide information on changes in drug trends and to educate and warn about newly identified substances and their public health threats.

Health Observances and Recognition Days for May

Supporting KHA's vision, "Optimal Health for Kansans and Kansas Hospitals," KHA is sharing SHSMD's Health Observance Calendar as a tool for planning your health events, internal and external communications and social media campaigns.

Federal and National News

MLN Connects Provider eNews from the Medicare Learning Network, CMS Issues Clarification on NATCEP/CEP Requirements