Health Forward Foundation invites members of the Legislature and Gov. Kelly’s administration to attend two, virtual panels as part of our first Kansas Public Health Educational Series.

Both morning and afternoon panels will include national, regional, and state experts offering their perspectives on opportunities for public policy to improve access to care and the care experience for Kansas residents. Continue reading to learn more about each session and the panelists.

Join us for one or both of the panels. This education series is free, but registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link.

Rep. John Eplee, Vice Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, will provide introductory remarks.

Morning panel: The utility of community health workers in the provision of public health

10 – 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 10, 2021

Community health workers serve an important role in health care delivery by directly interacting with patients to ensure the care they receive is more accessible and sensitive to their particular needs and circumstances.

Because community health workers often live in the same neighborhoods and share similar life experiences as the patient, they are able to establish trust and bridge the gap between patient health care and social services, so that patients receive the help they need along the continuum of care.

During this panel discussion, our national, regional, and local panelists will cover how community heath workers in Kansas and around the nation improve health care. They will also discuss policies that could expand and improve the community health worker role in Kansas.

MODERATOR
	Treva Smith Community Health Worker KC CARE Health Center
PANELISTS
	Kathy Burgoyne Senior Consultant KEB Consulting LLC
	Graciela Couchonnal, PhD Vice President of Strategy Health Forward Foundation
	Carl H, Rush, MRP Senior Technical Advisor National Association of Community Health Workers
	Erika Saleski Managing Member ES Advisors LLC

Afternoon panel session: Greater access to public health care through telehealth and digital equity

1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Nov. 10, 2021

As facilities cut hours and in-person visits during the early months of the pandemic, telehealth was a crucial tool for providers to continue care for their patients. It remains ever-popular because it removes the burden on patients to travel to a provider facility. However, the disparities in access to devices like smartphones and laptops and high-speed broadband remain.

Telehealth works best across high-speed connectivity, which facilitates conversations without lag or disruption. Recent data shows 165,000 Kansans lack wired, high-speed internet service available at their home, while 300,000 Kansans were plagued by slow internet speeds as of 2020.

This digital divide in health care remains a challenge, creating a growing a division between communities who have access to digital health technologies and efficient broadband resources versus those who experience limited access due to socioeconomic, geographic, and financial barriers.

Our national, regional, and local panelists will provide their expertise on the relation between telehealth and broadband access, while also discussing solutions to ensure all Kansans benefit from the conveniences that responsible telehealth policy can provide.

MODERATOR
	Rachel Russell Director of Community Engagement Cross-Lines Community Outreach
PANELISTS
	Luis Belen Co-Founder, Telehealth Equity Coalition CEO, National Healthcare IT Collaborative
	McClain Bryant Macklin, JD, MBA Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives Health Forward Foundation
	Angela Siefer Executive Director National Digital Inclusion Alliance
	Dr. Denton Shanks, DO, MPH Family Physician, Digital Health Medical Director, Assistant Professor The University of Kansas Health System University of Kansas Medical Center