Kansas Health Institute

03/02/2026

Turnaround Day has come and gone at the Kansas Statehouse — and that means we’re officially in the second half of the session.
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In our latest Health at the Capitol episode, KHI’s legislative monitoring team breaks down what made it through the March 19 deadline, including:
📱 Legislation addressing cell phone use among Kansas students
👧 Child welfare proposals focused on protecting Kansas kids
🏥 Health care workforce updates
💊 Pharmaceutical and controlled substance policy changes
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What survived Turnaround — and what does it mean for the rest of the session?
🎧 Listen to the podcast
📺 Or watch the full webcast
Catch up now and stay informed on the health policy issues shaping Kansas. https://www.khi.org/articles/health-at-the-capitol-2026-turnaround
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02/28/2026

After Turnaround Day on Feb. 19, more than 80 health-related bills remained in play when lawmakers returned Feb. 24. This special edition of Health at the Capitol highlights select measures advancing in the second half of the 2026 session.
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https://www.khi.org/articles/special-edition-turnaround-of-the-2026-session
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Learn which health-related bills remain after Turnaround Day and what to watch in the second half of the 2026 Kansas legislative session.

02/27/2026

We’re growing this spring 🌱
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Please join us in welcoming our spring 2026 interns — Katy, Jasmin and Caroline — to the Kansas Health Institute team!
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Over the next few months, they’ll jump into the work of improving health in Kansas — supporting research, contributing to analysis and strengthening communications that help turn data into action. We’re excited for the energy, curiosity and fresh perspective they bring to the organization.
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Welcome to KHI — we’re glad you’re here!
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02/27/2026

🌻 Save the Date: 2026 Kansas Governor’s Conference on Aging 🌻
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📅 Sept. 29–30, 2026
📍 Lawrence
🏛️ University of Kansas Conference Center
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Be part of the movement to make Kansas more age-friendly.
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The Kansas Governor’s Conference on Aging is returning — bigger and better than ever. Building on last year’s incredible momentum, this year’s conference will convene health professionals, policymakers, educators, students and community leaders from across the state to advance aging-related work in Kansas.
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💬 Registration and abstract submissions coming soon
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🤝Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services

🤝KU Area Health Education Center

🤝KANSAS ASSOCIATIONOF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND

🤝Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities

🤝Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

🤝Kansas 4M Geriatrics Workforce Education Program

🤝 Kansas Department for Children and Families

🤝 Kansas Department of Health and Environment

🤝LeadingAge Kansas

02/27/2026

Week 6 at the Capitol was a busy one. With Turnaround Day on Feb. 19, lawmakers worked quickly to move health-related bills out of their chambers — and several key measures advanced.
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The House passed bills expanding pharmacist authority, updating physician assistant licensure, modernizing pharmacy compounding standards and allowing emergency medication kits in private psychiatric hospitals. Lawmakers also approved changes to the state’s Good Samaritan law to protect those who administer expired opioid antagonists during an overdose emergency.
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In the Senate, members unanimously passed updates to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to align Kansas law with current federal rules and adjust premium structures. Another bill addressed remote pharmacy practice.
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Child welfare policy was also front and center, with legislation creating a statutory child abuse and neglect registry, prohibiting anonymous abuse reports and restructuring juvenile stabilization centers with dedicated funding.
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With Turnaround behind us, bills that advanced will now move to the opposite chamber for continued debate. We’ll keep tracking what it means for Kansas health policy.
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📰Read the latest edition of our blog, Health at the Capitol. https://www.khi.org/articles/week-6-of-the-2026-session/
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02/26/2026

🍽️ Bring It | March 3
Learn How to Host a Hunger Free Kansas Data Walk
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Turn data into dialogue. Learn how to host a Hunger Free Kansas Data Walk and use data as a tool to engage communities, inform decision-making and spark action around food insecurity.
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🕛 Noon–1 p.m. CST | Virtual
👉 Register here: https://www.khi.org/view-all-events/
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02/25/2026

📰 New Blog Post: A Kansas Twist — Legislative Approaches to Artificial Intelligence Advisory Bodies
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In our latest Kansas Twist blog, Kansas Health Institute Analyst Shelby Rowell takes a closer look at legislative approaches to AI advisory bodies, with a specific focus on Kansas lawmakers’ consideration of an AI task force.
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📖 Read more: https://www.khi.org/articles/legislative-approaches-to-artificial-intelligence-advisory-bodies/
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Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute Health Resources in Action

02/25/2026

Public health long celebrated invisibility — success measured by crises that never came. But amid workforce shortages, unstable funding and political strain, unseen impact becomes vulnerability. Prevention still saves lives, yet value that is not recognized cannot be sustained.
📰 Learn more in KHI’s latest blog.
https://www.khi.org/articles/ invisibility-is-no-longer-harmless-why-public-health-must-make-its-value-seen
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, , Kansas Health Foundation Kansas Public Health Collaborative Kansas Public Health Association Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)

02/24/2026

📊 New Resource: Digital Divide in Kansas
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Broadband internet and computer access increasingly shape health care, telehealth utilization, education and workforce participation. When connectivity is limited, disparities can widen — particularly for those in rural communities, households with lower-incomes and older adults.
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Use our updated interactive dashboard to examine broadband and computer access statewide.
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Explore geographic patterns and disparities by county, congressional district, legislative district and urban–rural classification.
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https://www.khi.org/articles/information-hub-digital-divide-in-kansas-2/
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02/20/2026

🍽️ Bring It | Feb. 24
Understanding OBBBA (H.R. 1) and Its Impacts on Medicaid and CHIP in Kansas
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What does OBBBA (H.R. 1) mean for Medicaid and CHIP in Kansas? This session breaks down the federal legislation and explores potential impacts for coverage, financing and state policy.
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🕛 Noon–1 p.m. CST | Virtual
👉 Register here: https://www.khi.org/view-all-events/
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02/20/2026

This , KHI celebrates the legacy, leadership and lasting impact of Black Kansans who have strengthened health across our state.
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Through leadership in medical research, expanded access to quality health care, and a commitment to building thriving communities, Black Kansans are shaping a healthier future for Kansas.
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To learn more about celebrating Kansas’ Black History, visit https://www.travelks.com/things-to-do/history-and-culture/diverse-cultures/black-heritage/a-celebration-of-black-history-in-kansas/

02/19/2026

🏛️ Federal Health Policy Update: What We’re Watching, Feb. 19, 2026
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🔹 CMS proposed changes to ACA marketplace rules for plan year 2027.
🔹 Lawmakers continue debating nursing home staffing minimum requirements, while new funding aims to help address long-term care workforce shortages.
🔹 A partial federal government shutdown began following a Department of Homeland Security funding impasse.
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🔗 https://www.khi.org/articles/update-what-were-watching-feb-19-2026/
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This update covers the latest federal health policy news and its potential impact on Kansas.