Category: Uncategorized

Report shows concerning projections on potential Medicaid funding cuts to KS

Posted on by Nancy McCready

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 29, 2025 

CONTACTS:  
Brenda Sharpe 
President and CEO 
REACH Healthcare Foundation 
brenda@reachhealth.org  		David Jordan 
President and CEO 
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund 
david@healthfund.org  
 

Kansas health philanthropies release concerning projections on potential cuts to Medicaid funding 

Hutchinson, Kan. — Medicaid serves as a crucial source of health insurance coverage for Kansas families, including children, parents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, those in need of behavioral health support, and residents of rural communities. Congressional lawmakers are currently considering $880 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program, which would reduce Medicaid funding and terminate coverage for vulnerable Kansans.  

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and REACH Healthcare Foundation recently partnered with experts from Manatt Health to shed light on the potential impacts of those cuts on Kansas over the next decade. 

“Medicaid is the largest source of federal funds in Kansas and any cuts to the program will have severe economic and health impacts felt in every corner of the state,” said Brenda Sharpe, President and CEO of REACH Healthcare Foundation. 

According to Manatt’s estimates, if Congress changed how Medicaid is funded (i.e., through a per capita cap) Kansas could see up to $347M in cuts in Medicaid funds in the first year enacted and $3.15 billion over ten years. As a result of the cuts, impacts to Kansans would likely include an increase in termination of coverage and benefits for vulnerable populations, rising personal medical debt, and the risk of more hospital closures across the state.  

“The data is clear and deeply concerning. Kansas will lose billions of dollars in Medicaid funding if these proposed cuts are enacted, which will result in the termination of Kansans’ health care coverage and put more hospitals at risk of closure,” added David Jordan, President and CEO of United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. “We will all pay the price – higher costs, increases in local taxes, and less access to care – to offset these cuts. It’s critical that lawmakers, healthcare providers, advocates, and the people of Kansas recognize the consequences before it’s too late.” 

Medicaid provides health care coverage for over 366,000 Kansans, including nearly 31% of all Kansas children. It also covers 4 in 7 nursing home residents, and 1 in 4 working-age adults with disabilities. 

Beyond the overall reductions of Medicaid funding analyzed as part of the proposed cuts, Kansas hospitals could see their Medicaid funding reduced by 22% through changes to the Medicaid State Directed Payment program, and 5-15% of current Medicaid enrollees could lose coverage over ten years if work reporting requirements are implemented. 

Manatt estimated the one-year and ten-year impacts of Congress’ proposed $880 billion in cuts to the federal Medicaid program, modeling the potential financial consequences for states. While Manatt’s estimates were developed before final legislative proposals are expected to be enacted by Summer 2025, they align closely with policy parameters, options and effective dates outlined by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and previously introduced legislative proposals.  

The REACH Healthcare Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund have prepared a brief summarizing key findings of the Manatt report, and Jordan and Sharpe say they will continue to closely monitor Congressional actions. As more specific policies are adopted, Manatt will update its estimates and also consider the interactive effects of those changes. These findings were shared during a press briefing April 29, which can be viewed here.

VIEW THE RESEARCH BRIEF

VIEW MANATT’S PRESENTATION

RELATED COVERAGE:
The Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly urges congressmen and senators to keep funding Medicaid
Kansas Reflector: Kansas governor pleads with congressional delegation to fight against Medicaid cuts
Kansas Reflector: Kansas Medicaid advocates share dire forecast of potential congressional funding cuts
Lawrence Journal-World: Advocates fear potential Medicaid cuts could strip coverage from thousands of Kansans, threatening hospitals and health care access
Johnson County Post: Johnson Countians impacted by Medicaid worry about cuts to federal program
Marysville The Advocate: Medicaid cuts will hurt
State Affairs/Hawver’s Capitol Report: Study: Billions on the line for KanCare in congressional debate
Dodge City Daily Globe: Kansas health philanthropies examine local impact of federal Medicaid cuts
Great Bend Tribune: New report examines how Medicaid cuts impacts Kansas
The Kansas City Star: Opinion: Missouri and Kansas families rely on Medicaid. Defend it – now
Rural Messenger: New report from Kansas health philanthropies examines how federal Medicaid cuts impacts Kansas
Dos Mundos: New report discusses impact of federal cuts to Medicaid in Kansas
KCUR 89.3: Kansans on Medicaid and health care providers say federal funding cuts will hurt
KOFO 103.7: Medicaid Cuts Will Effect Kansas Kids

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About REACH Healthcare Foundation and The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund 

REACH Healthcare Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to improving health coverage and access to quality, affordable healthcare for uninsured and medically underserved people. The foundation focuses its support in a six-county service area that encompasses Allen, Johnson, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and Cass Jackson and Lafayette counties in Missouri, as well as the City of Kansas City, Missouri.  Learn more about the foundation at www.reachhealth.org. 

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Health Fund) is a statewide health foundation working to improve the health of all Kansans since 1986 by funding innovative ideas, sparking conversations and convening those who can make a difference. Learn more at www.HealthFund.org 

About Manatt Health 

Manatt Health is a leading professional services firm specializing in health policy, healthcare transformation, and Medicaid redesign. Their modeling draws upon publicly available state data including Medicaid financial management report data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, enrollment and expenditure data from the Medicaid Budget and Expenditure System, and data from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. The Manatt Health Model is tailored specifically to Kansas and has been reviewed in consultation with key stakeholders including the Kansas Hospital Association. 

Podcast episode 22: Ton Miras Neira

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.

In episode 22, we interview Ton Mirás Neira, community health worker project manager for the Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE) project at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

He oversees 60 community health workers in 20 Kansas counties, concentrating on the social determinants of health. Community health workers are frontline public health workers who serve their fellow community members by helping them navigate and connect to the medical and social services they need.

In this episode, Ton discusses growing up in Spain and how he discovered a passion for helping others.

“I was a very, very curious kid,” he said. “My first intention was to be a veterinarian, and I learned everything about animals. But soon enough, like when I was a teenager, I knew that my heart was on helping people, so I did a lot of volunteering in the community.”

That passion drove him to complete a rigorous college program to become a sign language interpreter for the deaf-blind community, where he provided interpretation in a wide range of settings — from legal proceedings and workplace meetings to supporting mothers during labor and delivery. Ton shares how filling in for an interpreter for a couple of days ultimately led to him becoming an official government interpreter for the Spanish Parliament.

In 2012, he moved to the United States. He discusses learning about the U.S. health care system and finding a new career as a community worker.

Early in this new career, Ton was embedded in the emergency room at KU Medical Center to serve clients. There, he helped connect people with primary care physicians and navigate prescription coverage. Those efforts ultimately helped people receive better care and significantly reduced return visits to the ER.

In a six-month period, 85% of the people he worked with didn’t return to the ER. Of those who did return, there was a 75% reduction in hospital admissions and a 65% reduction in length of stay for those who were admitted. It was an eye-opening experience about the robust impact CHWs could make.

“I’m just grateful for everything that I’ve learned,” he said. “You know, working with the emergency room, I would never be here if I didn’t have all that experience.”

He shares his deep passion for the CHW profession and the fulfillment he finds in seeing how CHWs are making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

“Seeing the smiles, seeing how they accomplished their goals, reading their success stories, I’m in heaven with that,” Ton said. “I feel really empowered by the CHWs that are working in the community.”

In this episode, she also discusses:

  • His entrance into the world of community health workers
  • How he’s been able to help his clients, as well as save the health system money, in his role
  • His work to help underserved communities in Kansas
  • Identifying barriers and navigating how community health workers can bridge cultural gaps between patients and medical providers
  • How CHWs can help address the social determinants of health
  • His role as past co-chair for the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition and efforts to help the profession grow
  • The COPE program and how it tackles the social determinants of health in 20 Kansas counties using CHWs and other community partners
  • Creating a documentary called “Lifelines of Care: CHWs Making a Difference,” which shares the stories of three CHWs, highlighting the role and how they help improve lives in their communities

 And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Ton is an innovative leader improving the health of Kansans.

Listen now

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Podcast episode 21: Julie Lorenz

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.

In episode 21, we interview Julie Lorenz, principal consultant at 1898 & Co., the business and technology consulting arm of Burns & McDonnell. Burns & McDonnell provides solutions in architectural design, all engineering disciplines, project management and consulting. Julie is known as a national leader in policy development, collaboration and implementing vision initiatives. She also served as Kansas Department of Transportation secretary for four years before joining 1898 & Co.

In this episode, Julie discusses what led to her pursuing a career path in public service and transportation. She also shares an early lesson that set the stage for a lifetime of looking for solutions when challenges arise.

She discusses the role transportation plays in health. Transportation plays a significant role in the ability to transport medical supplies, for emergency vehicles to serve residents, and the ability for people to use bike trails and walking paths, which provide both physical and mental health benefits.

She also discussed how KDOT focuses a lot of effort on ensuring roads are safe for travelers so that they can continue living healthy lives.

Julie shares her experiences working in both the private and public sectors, and how her approach to problem solving has been beneficial in both.

While working for the state, they developed a process to better involve communities in decision making about transportation in their communities. They traveled the state listening to what needs communities voiced, as well as shared the needs of other communities. That process created more collaboration and understanding between communities to prioritize what would be best for a region or area — instead of everyone’s immediate individual requests.

This approach of collaboration to find solutions to challenges has carried with her throughout her career — both in the public and private sectors.

“It’s hard to solve problems if people don’t have a shared understanding of what the problem is, and they don’t understand their stake in the problem — and in the solution,” Julie said.

In this episode, she also discusses:

  • Legislative and state successes that have helped improve health, such as investments in broadband
  • Challenges the state faces with access to and storage of water
  • Her approach to problem solving
  • How the public and private sector can work together to plan for the future
  • The importance of using data in addition to empathy to help fuel conversations on issues
  • Kansas’ changing demographics and planning ahead for the future of the state’s service and infrastructure needs

 And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Julie is an innovative leader helping improve the health of Kansans.

Listen now

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49 organizations urge Governor Kelly to protect Medicaid and veto proviso

Posted on by Nancy McCready

The Health Fund and 48 other state organizations sent a letter to Governor Kelly today urging her to protect Medicaid and veto the continuous eligibility proviso included in the state budget. 

The proviso will force the state to pay an additional $3-4 million in administrative costs annually, add unnecessary red tape for providers and families, and terminate coverage for hardworking, low-income parents.

The current system is more effective, with parents and caregivers for children with incomes below 38% of the federal poverty level receiving 12-month continuous coverage through Medicaid. The proviso included in the budget would remove the 12-month continuous coverage for this group. More than 38,500 hardworking Kansans would be impacted by such a policy change.

This change will affect the most vulnerable Kansans who live well below the poverty line, making it more time consuming and burdensome. The constant dis-enrollment and re-enrollment of beneficiaries is burdensome for everyone and could prevent families from receiving the necessary care they need. The annual household income for a parent to qualify for this 12-month continuous coverage cannot exceed $11,856 for a family of four.

Ending this continuous coverage, which has been in place since 2010 in Kansas, will harm Kansas families. It will cause parents and their children to lose needed coverage, increase costs for the state, and reduce needed revenue for health care providers. 

Signers of the letter include provider groups like Community Care Network of Kansas and the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, advocacy groups like the Alliance for Healthy Kansas and Kansas Action for Children, patient groups like the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and foundations like REACH Healthcare Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

To view the full letter and signers, click here.

View Full Letter

Podcast episode 20: Kathleen Kelly Daughety

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.

In episode 20, we interview Kathleen Kelly Daughety, vice president of campaigns and civic engagement at Inseparable. Founded in 2020, Inseparable is a national mental health advocacy organization dedicated to increasing access to mental health care for everyone.

Kathleen has more than 15 years of experience in campaigns, strategic planning, project management and stakeholder engagement across the political, private and tech sectors. To Inseparable, Kathleen brings an undefeated electoral record; a keen interest in mental health, addiction abatement, and suicide prevention; and a commitment to making mental health an urgent priority for elected officials.

In this episode, she discusses her journey into politics and later mental health care advocacy. She shares her experience growing up in a Topeka neighborhood full of elected officials and public servants. Her state senator lived around the block, the state secretary of state down the street and Kathleen Sebelius right next door. Sebelius worked in the statehouse at the time and later went on to become Kansas governor and then the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“Growing up next door to her really gave me a window into what it looks like to be involved and to run for office,” Kathleen said. “Without that in my life, my career would have been very different.”

She also grew up near Menninger’s, which was a premier institution for the treatment of mental health. It was based in Topeka for more than 75 years before it relocated to Houston. Many of her friends’ parents worked in mental health, so it was commonly discussed throughout her childhood at a time when that wasn’t common.

“The stigma was removed really early on in my life in a way that maybe was later for other parts of the country,” she said.

Because of growing up in Topeka, Kathleen also was exposed to the Westboro Baptist church, a nationally known hate group that staged public protests against gay people. That, she said, played a significant role in becoming politically active and participating in the gay rights movement at a young age.

After working in politics for years, she decided to make a change. She took other positions and even started her own company, but she missed the direct social impact of being involved in politics or advocacy.

She was trying to figure out her next steps when she experienced her own mental health crisis. That experience sparked a calling to work in the mental health field and eventually led to her position at Inseparable. Inseparable works to improve mental health policy at the federal and state levels.

“People shouldn’t have to decide between crushing medical debt and a crushing illness, and that’s what we’re forcing people to do, and it doesn’t need to be that way,” Kathleen said. “There are policies we can put in place to fix that.”

She discussed the critical role Medicaid plays in providing health insurance for people. One third of people with mental health needs are covered by Medicaid, she said. The more than $880 billion in federal cuts currently being discussed to Medicaid could have a devastating impact on people with mental health needs, as well as force rural hospitals to close due to receiving less financial reimbursement when they’re already struggling financially.

“If people have access to care and they have any mental health needs and it’s served, they can thrive. If they don’t have access to care, it devolves, and it’s really dangerous,” Kathleen said. “Having access to health care is incredibly important. That is sort of the key to when people talk about the mental health crisis, we’re actually talking about an access to care crisis, and we need to solve that.”

In this episode, she also discusses:

  • The prevalence of youth mental health concerns/challenges and the importance of access to care and treatment
  • Inseparable’s work to advance bills for school-based mental health care through Medicaid
  • The importance of having health insurance in order to access mental health care and the vital role Medicaid plays in that; Medicaid helps more people receive mental health care than any other insurance plan
  • How expanding Medicaid expands access to mental health care
  • The development of 988, the suicide and mental health crisis phone line
  • Crisis response and funding
  • How federal cuts to Medicaid would devastate mental health and hospitals
  • Technology and AI in health care
  • The hope she has for mental health care
  • How voters across party lines support mental health issues and Inseparable’s efforts to work with politicians to address mental health care

 And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Kathleen is an innovative leader in mental health care.

Listen now

Listen below or on any of your favorite podcast services. Like and subscribe to stay up-to-date with each new episode!

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Podcast episode 19: Jim McLean

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.

In episode 19, we interview veteran journalist Jim McLean, senior reporter at Kansas News Service. Kansas News Service is a collaboration of public media stations across Kansas that report on issues and events affecting the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and the state overall.

Jim was previously managing editor for the Kansas News Service, founder of KHI News Service covering health policy, and news director and Statehouse bureau chief for Kansas Public Radio. He was also managing editor for the Topeka Capital-Journal.

He has received numerous awards for journalistic excellence from the Kansas Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and Kansas Association of Broadcasters.

In this episode, he discusses how managing a supper club in the basement of a hotel led to a career in radio and journalism.

He also discusses the importance of public radio and how it’s evolved over the years. He shares stories from throughout his career and covering Kansas state government. He reflects on how the relationship with the media and public officials has changed, as well as the environment at the statehouse.

“There were partisan differences, but everybody was there essentially to do the public business. It wasn’t performance art like I think it is today,” he said. “People were respectful of one another. They had different opinions, but it was a constructive environment.”

He also discusses his experience working at the Kansas Health Institute (KHI), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that conducts research on health policy issues. While there, one of the most important things he learned about was the social determinants of health.

“So much more contributes to whether you’re a healthy person or not than just the health care that you receive,” he said. “In fact, on a percentage basis, that’s well down the line.”

While at KHI, he created and launched KHI News Service to focus on nonpartisan news coverage of health policy. That eventually split off from KHI and became housed at KCUR Public Media, where the team of reporters continues covering health policy and issues across the state.

In this episode, he also discusses:

  • His journey into broadcasting and later politics
  • How journalism and politics have changed during his career
  • Sharing stories of Kansans through his podcast series titled “My Fellow Kansans”
  • How getting stuck on ideological positions creates an inability to have constructive conversation on topics that affect everyone’s health, such as Medicaid
  • The role media plays in helping the public understand potential policy impacts and his hope of sustaining media outlets that have vigorous editorial processes

 And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Jim is an innovative leader in health care communications.

Listen now

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Now Hiring – Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator

Posted on by Jeff

Now hiring! Do you have a passion for social justice and community health?

We’re seeking an Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator to join our team.

To download this job description (pdf), click here. To apply, please send resume and cover letter to jobs@healthfund.org.

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Health Fund) seeks an Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator with a passion for social justice and community health to join our quest to improve the health and wholeness of all Kansans. The Health Fund works to advance conversation and action on health-related issues, especially in rural and under-served communities. Through funding programs and ideas, providing hands-on expertise, and convening partners we advance innovative solutions to improve Kansans’ health for generations to come.

The Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator will support development, implementation, and management of Health Fund programs, primarily under the Fund’s Engaged Congregations and Communities (ECC) strategic focus.

As a key member of the organization, the Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator must have strong project management skills and the ability to manage work from start to finish. In addition to managing the Health Fund’s ECC activities, the employee will support related Fund program work and be a collaborative team player.  

We seek a mission-oriented, highly motivated candidate committed to improving the health of all Kansans and excited to help empower deployment of asset-based community development concepts to address social drivers and improve health at the local and hyper-local levels.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Health Fund’s Vice President of Programs.

Qualifications

Compensation/Benefits. The Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator position has a starting salary in the range of $45,000-$65,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications. The employee will have a performance evaluation after the first six and twelve months and at least annually thereafter. Benefits, including health insurance and retirement, are provided as outlined in the Personnel Policies and Procedures for full-time employees.

Working Conditions/Typical Hours. The Health Fund is currently operating in a hybrid work model with the expectation of at least two days in the office per week. Working conditions include the normal office environment with some lifting (up to 30 pounds). The office is open on all non-holiday weekdays. The Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator has a 40- to 45-hour work week and is a salaried exempt employee. The job includes in-state travel and occasional out-of-state travel which can extend the weekly work hours beyond the normal expectation. The Engaged Congregations and Communities Coordinator is subject to and must comply with the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund Personnel Policies and Procedures and such other policies and procedures specific to the position, which may be amended from time to time.

To download this job description (pdf), click here. To apply, please email resume and cover letter to jobs@healthfund.org.

Podcast episode 18: Ashley All

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.

In episode 18, we interview Ashley All, M.S., president of the Kansas Coalition for Common Sense and executive director of the Kansas Common Sense Fund. Ashley is an experienced communication strategist and advocate, whose nonpartisan organizations focus on empowering Kansas voters through research-based messaging. 

Previously, Ashley served as senior advisor at Families United for Freedom, director of communications for Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, and communications director for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. 

In this episode, she discusses the importance of building coalitions around shared values. She said it’s important to work with a diverse group of people, including those across the political spectrum. 

Her organization undertook an extensive research project to better understand what values are most important to Kansans. That research has been extremely beneficial in her work, she said.

“A lot of the issues that we deal with really do have a through line in values — whether it’s family or faith or accountability,” Ashley said. “And so better understanding those shared values first, and then using those shared values as a foundation in our messaging is much more effective — even if you’re dealing with something that is complicated or polarizing.”

She said though times are challenging right now, she encourages people to step back from social media and engage with their communities and neighbors in real life — including those who hold different political views. 

“I think you’ll find that the vast majority of people, you have a lot more in common than you think,” she said. “And having those conversations is really the first step in healing those wounds that we’ve kind of created over the last few years.”

In this episode, she also discusses:

  • Her journey into communications
  • Her experience working on multiple campaigns and in government service
  • The importance of sharing stories and how it can influence conversations on policies
  • Her experience working on communications for women’s health and reproductive rights in Kansas
  • Lessons she’s learned along the way
  • Why she founded the Kansas Common Sense Fund
  • Communications challenges in the current political environment 
  • Efforts with the Health Fund to convey how proposed Medicaid cuts would hurt local communities

 And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Ashley is an innovative leader in communications.

Listen now

Listen below or on any of your favorite podcast services. Like and subscribe to stay up-to-date with each new episode!

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2025 Healthy Congregations Retreat

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Thank you for attending our annual Healthy Congregations retreat April 10-11 in Salina, Kansas!

We appreciate everyone who attended our annual Healthy Congregations retreat this year. We hope you enjoyed connecting, learning, sharing and developing relationships with others who share a passion for congregational and community health.

We’ve included resources from the 2025 retreat below. If you posted on social media during the event, we’d love for you to tag us @umhealthfund! And, we hope to see you again in 2026!

Healthy Congregations contact: Katie Schoenhoff, vice president of programs, katie@healthfund.org

AGENDA

View the full 2025 agenda here.

SESSIONS

Connection to Action: Listening Sessions
Presenter: Adam Barlow-Thompson, The Neighboring Movement
Handouts

Connection to Action: Storytelling
Presenter: Katie Schoenhoff, Health Fund
Presentation | Handouts below


Workshop — Journeys to Transformational Change
Presenter: Katie Schoenhoff, Health Fund
Presentation | Handout

Emerging Issues — Facilitated Discussion and Q&A
Presenter: David Jordan, Health Fund
Presentation

Healthy Congregations Program Updates
Presenter: Katie Schoenhoff, Health Fund
Presentation

PHOTOS

Click here to view photos from the retreat!


Podcast episode 17: Justin Duncan

Posted on by Nancy McCready

Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.

In episode 17, we interview Justin Duncan, BS, NRP, CCEMT-P, FP-C. Justin serves as the chief executive officer for Washington County Ambulance District.

He also serves as president of the Missouri EMS Association, is a board member for the Missouri EMS Agent Corporation, and is a member of the National EMS Management Association.

He is a strong advocate for the profession and finding new ways to bring innovative therapies into the pre-hospital setting.

In this episode, he discusses the role of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. He also discusses the differences between the two and misconceptions that exist about the industry as a whole, such as that most states don’t recognize them as essential services — despite the fact the public does.

“There’s a common misconception across the majority of human beings that when they call 911, they are guaranteed to have a resource show up to their doorstep,” he said. “That’s just quite simply not the case.”

He also discussed that while many states don’t recognize EMTs and paramedics as health care providers, about 80-85% of the calls they respond to are for routine primary care — not emergency care. People often call 911 for blood pressure checks, pain from toothaches, running out of medications or wanting mental health care but not sure where to start.

In response to this, he said his ambulance district expanded to adopt a new service line to address these types of calls without transporting patients to a hospital emergency room. The new “wing” of care utilizes mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedicine to leverage the skills of EMTs, paramedics and other health care providers to provide primary care in a person’s home.

Not only can they provide certain levels of medical care, but they can also make assessments, help connect patients with appropriate resources and providers, and reduce the number of unnecessary visits to emergency departments. The goal is to ensure patients receive the “right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Justin said.

“If you have a toothache, an emergency ambulance response and transport to the emergency department is not the right care and in the right place,” he said.

Want to learn more about community paramedicine?
Check out our new fact sheet and resources page here!


This model of care is helping fill gaps in the current health care system, especially when it comes to maternal health care in rural communities. Nearly 46% of Kansas counties are defined as maternity care deserts, which means there are no obstetric providers or hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care.

There’s a misconception that people aren’t delivering babies in rural communities anymore, he said, but that’s not true.

“We might not have a delivering facility, we may not have a hospital with an OB department anymore, but we deliver babies all the time in our rural communities,” Justin said. “It just so happens they’re in people’s living rooms, in the back of the ambulance or on the side of the highway.”

He discusses how his mobile integrated healthcare team is helping fill the gaps in maternal health for these rural communities. There are misconceptions that mobile integrated health care and community paramedicine teams are going to take away home health and hospice jobs. Justin said that’s simply not true.

“I always come back and say ‘Nope, I get more referrals, and we work closer with them than I ever dreamed of,'” he said. “I promise you there is plenty enough work to go around. We’re not looking to take anyone’s jobs. We’re here to fill gaps.”

He also discusses:

  • His journey into becoming an EMT and then paramedic
  • The roles of EMTs and paramedics and the differences between the two
  • How these professions are categorized and reimbursed at the federal level
  • How most states do not recognize emergency medical services as an essential service, though most people assume it is and expect services to arrive upon calling 9-1-1
  • How mobile integrated health and community paramedicine and are helping fill gaps in care
  • Developing relationships with local community health centers, or Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other partners to provide the best patient care when and where it’s needed
  • How state and federal policies, which also impact reimbursements, are currently the largest barriers to community paramedicine and mobile integrated healthcare programs
  • How care changed during the pandemic, allowing paramedics to provide care at home in order to limit visits to the hospital

And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Justin is an innovative leader in health care.

Listen now

Listen below or on any of your favorite podcast services. Like and subscribe to stay up-to-date with each new episode!

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Please see the Pioneers in Health page on our website for more information on our podcast series and links to other episodes.  

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