Jennifer Findley
KHA, Vice President Education and Special Projects

Since 2012, the Kansas Hospital Association and its members have been crafting an alternative rural health model for Kansas communities to consider. The concept is the Primary Health Center model, which offers a sustainable option for rural areas to provide preventive and primary care, chronic disease management and emergency services; to serve as an access point, and to coordinate care for the individual when higher levels of service are required.

After many years of working with the Kansas congressional delegation and advocating for the opportunity to test this concept, we are pleased to announce that the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in December 2020 included the creation of a new payment/delivery model for rural hospitals titled “Rural Emergency Hospital.” The REH is very similar to the Primary Health Center model and is a permanent solution for rural communities to consider. REHs can start operating in January 2023.

The Rural Emergency Hospital model provides ambulatory, initial assessment and interventional services. The REH is open to the community every day of the year to provide the consistent service array most needed by the community. It would focus its efforts on the primary care needs of the community. It would further be supported by a robust EMS plan and a wide array of telemedicine services. While still being finalized, the Medicare payment methodology for Rural Emergency Hospitals looks to help stabilize the financial situation for rural communities.

The creation of the REH does not end our work in this area. We are turning our energies to getting Kansas ready for this opportunity. Following the action taken at the federal level, the Kansas Legislature passed HB 2208, which allows for the licensure of the REH in Kansas. Governor Kelly signed the bill a few weeks ago.

It is equally important we begin to engage communities in conversations about the future of health care. KHA in partnership with the Kansas Health Foundation, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and the KU Public Management Center are making available the opportunity for Community Conversations. These conversations will review the current state of the hospital/health delivery system, discuss essential services and review options for the future. We hope to start hosting conversations this summer.

Additional information on the Rural Emergency Hospital and Community Conversations are available on the KHA website.

Jennifer Findley is the staff contact for this project and can be reached at jfindley@kha-net.org.