08/31/2026
A Meaningful Visit to SCK Health 💚💛
We were honored to welcome both Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. to SCK Health in the past week. Their visits provided an important opportunity for our team to share the realities of providing healthcare in a rural community—and, most importantly, to advocate for policies that can help ensure rural hospitals have the resources and flexibility needed to continue serving their communities.
We shared how Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and REH/CAP grant funding are already making a meaningful difference at SCK Health, supporting improvements such as roof improvements, an ED mental health safe room, updated outpatient spaces, a new registration area, and more than $1 million in essential equipment upgrades and replacements.
We also used this opportunity to advocate for changes that could strengthen the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) model, including adding swing beds, expanding SHIP and NHSC eligibility, and allowing REHs to participate in the 340B program. Transportation was another important part of the conversation, as rural hospitals frequently help bridge the gap when patients face challenges getting to and from necessary care.
These conversations matter. Rural hospitals face unique challenges, and meaningful policy changes can have a direct impact on our ability to provide accessible, sustainable healthcare close to home. By sharing our experiences and the needs we see every day, SCK Health can help ensure the voice of rural healthcare is part of the conversation at the state and federal levels.
We are grateful to Senator Moran and Senator Marshall for taking the time to visit SCK Health, listen to the challenges facing rural healthcare, and learn more about the patients and communities we serve. We also appreciate their support of Kansas’ CMS request and the provider assessment funds that continue to help strengthen rural hospital operations.
We are proud to serve our community—and proud to advocate for a stronger future for rural healthcare, both here in South Central Kansas and across rural America.
