Kansas Health Institute

🎉Finally, please join us in congratulating Shelby Rowell on her promotion to Senior Analyst.

Shelby’s work focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, health care, public health and rural communities. She serves as Director of the Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub and contributes to KHI's AI, rural health, maternal health and state health policy work, while also strengthening project management practices across the organization.

Kevin, Val, Kaci and Shelby's leadership and expertise will continue to expand KHI’s ability to provide objective research, practical resources and meaningful opportunities for collaboration to improve health in Kansas and beyond.

Congratulations to Kaci Cink on her promotion to Senior Analyst! 🎉
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Kaci brings expertise in health insurance coverage, Medicaid data and applied analytics. She has led KHI's Annual Insurance Update, enhanced the Digital Divide and Insurance Coverage dashboards, and is helping expand KHI's interactive information hubs to make data more accessible and useful.

Please join us in congratulating Valentina Blanchard on her promotion to Senior Analyst. 🎉
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Val is a researcher and facilitator with expertise in behavioral health and collaborative engagement. She leads the Reimagining the Health Care System in Kansas initiative and has facilitated groups such as the Kansas 988 Coordinating Council, helping partners navigate complex issues and build consensus.

At KHI, our work is strengthened by team members who continue to grow their expertise, take on new challenges and lead work that informs policy and improves health across Kansas. We are pleased to announce four recent staff promotions today.
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🎉Congratulations to Kevin Kovach on his promotion to Principal Strategist for Public Health Services and Systems! 🎉
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Kevin leads KHI's work supporting public health systems through research, practical tools, technical assistance and thought leadership. His recent work includes What Happened to Health in Kansas?, the Economic Case for Health and KHI's Value Proposition for Public Health framework and toolkit.

🏛️Federal health policy update: What we’re watching, Aug. 6, 2026
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🔹 CMS is ending a Medicare Part D demonstration program and has proposed a rule implementing restrictions on Medicaid provider taxes enacted in H.R. 1.
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🔹 The Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking emergency department patient records from hospitals nationwide, drawing questions about patient privacy and legal authority.
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📰Stay informed: https://www.khi.org/articles/update-what-were-watching-aug-6-2026
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Health care organizations need clear guidance on AI and how to use it responsibly.

In response to this need, the Kansas Health Institute, with support from Healthworks, has released two free resources developed by Tatiana Lin, Emma Uridge and Shelby Rowell to help hospitals establish a thoughtful, risk-based approach to AI governance:

📄 The AI Use Policy Template for Hospitals: Core Policy + Add-On Modules
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📘 The Companion Guide to the AI Use Policy Template for Hospitals provides detailed instructions for how to develop AI policy and rationale for why each section is important.
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🌾 Built with rural proofing in mind - hospitals with limited connectivity, staffing or specialty access can adapt the policy to their context

Whether you're developing your first AI use policy or refining an existing approach, these customizable resources can help your organization establish clear expectations for the responsible use of AI.

🔗 Download the resources: https://www.khi.org/articles/ai-use-policy-template-for-hospitals-and-companion-guide/
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Please share these resources with colleagues who are leaders in AI, compliance, governance, legal, quality improvement or innovation efforts.

Kansas Hospital Association Kansas Department of Health and Environment Kansas Association of Local Health Departments Community Care Network of Kansas Kansas Health Foundation Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas American Hospital Association AAMC AMIA HIMSS

Missed Session 2? You can still catch the conversation. 👇
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ICYMI: Region 7 Maternal Health ECHO® Session 2 focused on bridging community and clinical approaches — bringing together perspectives from across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas to better connect lived experience with care delivery. 💬💛
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If you couldn’t join live, the key insights are waiting for you.
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✨ On the recap page, you’ll find:
▶️ Full video recording of the session
📝 A clear, actionable summary of key takeaways
📄 Tools, resources and materials to support your work
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Whether you’re in clinical care, public health, community-based work or policy, this session offers practical ideas to strengthen how we support mothers and families.
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📣 Explore the recap now on the Kansas Health Institute website:
https://www.khi.org/articles/on-demand-bridging-community-and-clinical-approaches-region-7-maternal-health-echo-session-2/
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And stay tuned — more sessions are ahead as we continue building stronger, more connected systems across Region 7.
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🗓️ Date: Aug. 25, 2026
🕘 Time: 1-2:30 p.m. CDT
📍 Location: Zoom through the iECHO platform
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To register for Session 3 or learn more about the series, visit: https://www.khi.org/view-all-events/removing-structural-and-financial-barriers/
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Topeka Doula Project

Public health organizations have long used quality improvement to strengthen programs and services. But can those same tools help rebuild public trust?
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In the latest Transforming Public Health for the 21st Century blog, we explore how local health departments can use quality improvement and action learning to strengthen trust by measuring progress and continuously improving their work.
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Read the blog to learn how reflective action can help public health organizations build trust through consistent, evidence-informed improvement.
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https://www.khi.org/articles/from-linchpin-to-lever-part-2-building-trust-through-reflective-action
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🌻Registration Now Open: 2026 Kansas Governor’s Conference on Aging🌻

📅 Tuesday–Wednesday, September 29–30, 2026
🕘 Day 1: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Day 2: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. CDT
📍 Lawrence | Hosted at the University of Kansas Conference Center

🎟️ General Admission: $185 (both days) | Students: $85 (discount code required)
🔗 Register now: https://www.eeds.com/portal_live_events.aspx?ConferenceID=122122

For additional information, visit the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services website https://www.kdads.ks.gov/services-programs/aging/2026-governor-s-conference-on-aging

For general inquiries, to join our sponsor interest list or for students to request a discount code, please contact:
📧 [email protected]

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services KU Area Health Education Center Kansas Department for Children and Families Kansas Department of Health and Environment LeadingAge Kansas