View Full Issue (PDF)

March 7, 2025

President's Perspective – From Assessments to Improvements, Kansas Health Matters Can Help
For 14 years, Kansas Health Matters has made public data accessible in a meaningful context, supported local organizations with tools to address complex health issues and established a collaborative partnership that guides and sustains these efforts.

Financial Awareness Campaign in Full Swing – New One-Page Resource on Medicaid
KHA is working to broadly tell the hospital finance story this spring. Our new one-page resource is available to help kick-start discussions about Medicaid.

Recruitment and Retention Strategies: Providing Real-Time Feedback Educational Webinar – April 3
This webinar will equip health care leaders and human resources professionals with the tools and strategies to create a more engaging, supportive and growth-focused work environment, leading to stronger retention and improved recruitment outcomes.

KHA Receives Response from the OIG
On Jan. 10, 2025, KHA sent a letter to the OIG expressing concern regarding a recent report, Medicare Could Save Billions with Comparable Access for Enrollees if Critical Access Hospital Payments for Swing-Bed Services Were Similar to Those of the Fee-for-Service PPS.

Registration Is Still Open for the Infection Prevention Conference – March 13-14
This two-day event will provide health care professionals with infection prevention and control strategies and opportunities to network and discuss best practices. 
 

Reporting of Cases of Influenza with Neurologic Complications
Because of the national reports of the possibility of an increase in cases of children and adults with influenza and with neurologic complications, KDHE is asking for your assistance. 

KHA HIDI Advantage Optics Update
Last week, Advantage Optics, the online reporting tool accessed from the HIDI Advantage User Portal, was updated with the December 2024 data and now contains October 2019 – September 2024 IP, OP and ED discharges.

Measles Outbreaks in Texas and Other States
KDHE issued a Health Alert Network alert on March 3, including information about the Texas measles outbreak and additional measles cases in other states, including Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island.

Excellence in Workforce Strategies – Standards Team Implements Strategies to Enhance Retention and Engagement
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 Wamego Health Center. 

Kansas Health Care Micro-Internship Project Returns
This grant-funded initiative offers students currently enrolled in any Kansas public community or technical college and high school students at least 18 years old and completing one or more dual or concurrent enrollment courses to apply to KHA for a micro-internship.

Project ECHO Seeking Feedback
Project ECHO is gathering insights from Kansas clinicians, health professionals and community partners to better understand the training needs and challenges in screening, assessing, treating and linking care resources for individuals with substance use disorders.

Kansas Fights Addiction Needs Assessment – Your Input Needed
Your input is needed to inform the completion of the comprehensive needs assessment of Kansas's substance use disorder systems. This will guide the long-term investment of the state's opioid settlement money through the Kansas Fights Addiction grant program.

The End of HCPCS Code G0511: What FQHCs and RHCs Can Do Next
Starting July 1, 2025, the HCPCS code G0511, used for general care management services by rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers, will be phased out.

KPQC Learning Forum Help Save the Hearts Recording and Materials Available
If your team could not join last month's Kansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative learning forum "Help Save the Hearts" or you would like to share with a colleague, they are available on the KPQC website. 
 

Positions Available
Executive Director of Revenue Cycle, Director of Patient Access and Senior Accountant, Newman Regional Health.

Federal and National News
This week's topics include Estimates of 2024–2025 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness, Yale Program to Host Virtual Addiction Medicine Grand Rounds, Organizations to Offer Trauma-Informed Care Online Training, Before You Go.