MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall highlighted federal investments in rural health care during a stop in Hutchinson, pointing to new funding for dental care, behavioral health and other services in central and western Kansas.
Marshall, a physician, said improving access to preventive and primary care is critical as the country faces high rates of chronic disease. He argued that the health care system cannot address those challenges solely by treating illnesses after they develop.
“We're never going to be able to treat ourselves out of this problem,” Marshall said.
Marshall discussed his work on community health centers and nursing programs, including bipartisan efforts with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Despite their political differences, Marshall said they share a goal of improving access to affordable and meaningful health care.
Marshall also discussed changes in Medicaid reimbursement that he said will bring an additional $1.3 billion to Kansas hospitals, including about $140 million for critical access hospitals.
He also highlighted the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying Kansas received $222 million through the initiative. Marshall said the program gives states flexibility to direct money toward needs that can vary significantly between rural and urban communities.
Some of that funding is already headed to Hutchinson.
PrairieStar Health Center CEO Bryant Anderson said the organization received just under $2 million that will help support its planned dental clinic expansion.
Anderson said dental access remains a significant problem in rural Kansas, with some counties having extremely high patient-to-dentist ratios and others having no dentists.
PrairieStar is planning a 14,900-square-foot dental expansion that will include 14 dental suites and is expected to increase the number of patients the health center can serve.
Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System CEO Benjamin Anderson said the health system received a $3 million grant focused on expanding psychiatric care and developing a partnership with the KU School of Medicine.
Anderson said the effort could bring graduate medical education in psychiatry to Hutchinson, training psychiatrists who could eventually serve central and western Kansas.
The project would also require additional inpatient psychiatric capacity.
Anderson said expanding that capacity could help address a problem facing rural emergency departments, where patients experiencing behavioral health crises can remain for days or even weeks while waiting for an appropriate placement.
The health system is evaluating how to expand its psychiatric capacity and combine the grant with other available funding.
Marshall also discussed efforts to incorporate nutrition into health care, including “Food is Medicine” initiatives designed to address chronic disease and reduce hospital readmissions.
Hutchinson Regional recently received a separate $150,000 grant through the Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine Grant Program. Anderson said the health system is working on a broader population health strategy.
Marshall said community health centers can play a larger role by connecting primary care with dental care, behavioral health, nutrition and patient coaching.
He said the overall goal is to help rural residents navigate the health care system while improving access to preventive services closer to home.
The Hutchinson stop was part of Marshall's statewide tour focused on strengthening rural Kansas.