Legislative Health Bites Learning Series

February 09

Thursdays at noon, Jan. 12 - Feb. 9, KHI Learning Center

Health Bites logo

The Kansas Health Institute offers a menu of bite-sized health policy conversations to whet your appetite about key issues of the day. These sessions are exclusively for Kansas legislators.

To register, email us.

When: 

  • Thursdays,  January 12 – February 09
  • 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. CST

Where: 

  • Kansas Health Institute Learning Center, 212 SW Eighth Ave., Topeka Kansas, directly across from the Kansas Statehouse.

Topics:

KHI policy experts will be on hand to discuss the following topics:

  • Thursday, January 12: Who’s Covered? A Snapshot of Health Insurance and the Uninsured

In this session, KHI will share the latest data on health insurance coverage from the U.S. Census Bureau and participants will discuss recent trends in Kansas.

  • Thursday, January 19: Youth Suicide Rates in Kansas

Both nationally and in Kansas, suicide rates for youth and young adults have risen over the last two decades. The rising suicide rates and mental health challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 have further emphasized the importance of understanding suicide and mental health among youth and young adults, and the options available for policymakers and local organizations. In this Health Bites session, participants will discuss the trend in youth suicide rates and the related challenges and opportunities for meeting the growing mental health needs of youth and young adults in Kansas.

  • Thursday, January 26: Understanding the Behavioral Health Workforce in Kansas

In many Kansas behavioral health professions, the workforce supply does not meet community demand, and projections for the future indicate increasing challenges. The aging workforce and geographic clustering further accentuate the issues. In this Health Bites session, KHI will share the latest data on the independent practice behavioral health workforce and discuss the aging and geographic distribution of certain behavioral health professionals.

  • Thursday, February 2: Our Aging Population: Meeting the Needs of Kansas Seniors

The population of older Kansans is growing. By 2030, the demand for senior care services is expected to outpace the supply of services in the state. To address future challenges, the Senior Care Task Force was formed under 2021 House Bill 2114 and tasked with analyzing barriers and creating strategic solutions to protect and provide services to seniors residing in the state. In this Health Bites session, participants will discuss the latest recommendations developed by the Task Force working groups, which are comprised of experts from around the state.

  • Thursday, February 9: Marijuana and the Workplace

A medical marijuana bill may be introduced early in the 2023 Kansas Legislative session that will include recommendations from the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana. However, questions have been raised about the impact of legalizing medical marijuana on employers trying to hire employees who are required to pass drug screening tests, especially individuals who operate heavy machinery. In this Health Bites session, KHI will share the latest research on how legalizing marijuana could impact a state’s workforce and will discuss the experiences of employers in other states who have been navigating this issue.

 

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

The Kansas Health Institute admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs and other school-administered programs and conferences. Please call (785) 233-5443 with any questions.

About Kansas Health Institute

The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

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