December 17, 2024
Community Health Corner
The National Extension Framework for Health Equity and Well-being recommends using community development strategies and health literacy programs to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. The following resources help us improve well-being for all, and achieve Healthy Kansas 2030 and Healthy People 2030 objectives.
Access to Health Care in Rural America: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation has released the Access to Health Care in Rural America report that describes patterns in insurance coverage and uninsurance rates in rural and urban areas. Non-financial challenges in accessing care faced by many rural residents and descriptions of disparities in health outcomes between urban and rural areas are included. The report discusses policies, programs, and resources designed to address barriers to care in rural America and the important role that federal and state health care coverage programs like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Marketplace, and Medicare play in providing health insurance coverage for rural residents. The 30pg Access report is available here.
Mental Health America Report released about Mental Health in the Workplace: MHA recently published its seventh annual Mind the Workplace 2024 Report: Healthy Workplaces Lead with Trust and Support. This annual report explores how business leaders can integrate mental health into workplace infrastructure and culture with healthy employer practices. One key finding in the 2024 report is that employees with higher rates of psychological safety feel more confident advocating for their or others' needs in the workplace. Of employees who felt confident expressing their opinions with their team, 87% strongly agreed that they felt confident advocating for their and others' needs. The MHA website includes previous annual mental health in the workplace reports dating back to 2018.
Explore Medicaid in Kansas with Kansas Health Institute series: The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) has announced dates for the 2025 “Policy Series: Exploring Medicaid in Kansas.” The virtual policy series will take place from 1:00 – 2:30 pm CST on the following dates:
• March 11: Exploring Medicaid Benefits: How KanCare Addresses Health-Related Social Needs
• June 10: Exploring KanCare and Behavioral Health: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
• Sept. 9: Exploring Maternal Health in KanCare: Doulas and Community Health Workers
• Dec. 9: Exploring Medicaid Populations: Reaching Individuals Who Are Unhoused
On October 24, KHI launched the series by providing details about Medicaid in Kansas but also asking, “what do you want to know about Medicaid?” Attendees gained insights into Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), otherwise known as KanCare. Registration for the 2025 policy series will be open soon. Bookmark the KHI website located here.
For more information, contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu; and Stephanie Gutierrez, smgutier@k-state.edu