KHI Health Policy Series: Bring It!
The Kansas Health Institute offered a series of five virtual sessions over three weeks. Select a link below for each event.
Suicide in Rural and Frontier Kansas (February 15, 2022): State and local organizations established the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition in late 2021. As these groups work to address the rising rates of suicide statewide, the latest data available show rates of suicide are higher in the most rural parts of Kansas, known as frontier counties. Join this session for a discussion of federal and state strategies focused on reducing suicide in rural and frontier communities across Kansas.
The Cost of Care: Prescription Drugs in KanCare (February 17, 2022): State budgets continue to absorb significant cost increases related to pharmaceuticals, and the Kansas Medicaid program (KanCare) – at 16.7 percent of state general funds – is under the microscope for issues related to drug payments and discount reporting by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). This session will provide a brief overview of Medicaid pharmacy pricing, high-cost drugs, rebates, PBMs and the 340B program, along with a discussion of state policy options for controlling cost.
Navigating the Medical Marijuana Landscape (February 22, 2022): Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have approved comprehensive, publicly available medical marijuana/cannabis programs, while 11 states allow the use of “low THC, high cannabidiol (CBD)” products for medical reasons in limited situations or as a legal defense. In this session, we will discuss policy issues related to medical marijuana and compare laws in other states with provisions in two Kansas bills.
The Next Page: A Playbook for Modernizing the Kansas Behavioral Health System (February 24, 2022): The Kansas Legislature is advancing the pages of the behavioral health playbook. The 2021 Special Committee on Kansas Mental Health Modernization and Reform was tasked with analyzing the Kansas behavioral health system and developing a strategic effort to modernize it. Join us to discuss the latest recommendations developed by the Special Committee’s working groups, which included experts from across the state.
A Shot at COVID-19 Vaccine Policy (March 1, 2022): The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of Kansans and pushed our hospital systems to their capacity. As we enter the third year of the pandemic, let’s reflect on the tools used to combat COVID-19 in Kansas. This session will summarize results from Kansas focus groups on vaccine preferences and discuss both the state and federal components of COVID-19 vaccine policy decision-making.