Funding to Help Expand Access to Behavioral
Health Services in Rural Kansas
LENEXA,
Kan., March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunflower
Health Plan ("Sunflower"), a managed care organization established
to deliver quality healthcare in the state of Kansas and a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), and Centene
Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, today
announced a $160,000 grant to the
Hays Medical Center Foundation to provide on-demand and scheduled
telepsychiatry services at Hays Medical Center ("HaysMed").
The partnership will bolster capacity for telehealth behavioral
health services across central and western Kansas by providing 24-hour access to
board-certified psychiatrists, alleviating pressure on rural
emergency rooms.
"Increasing access to telepsychiatry bridges the gap between
isolation and care, empowering individuals to get the support they
need, wherever they are," said Michael
Stephens, Sunflower Health Plan president and CEO. "We are
confident these critical services will lead to better member
outcomes while directly benefitting the rural Kansas healthcare system."
HaysMed is the only tertiary care center its region. Its
commitment to quality care and outcomes has resulted in consistent
four-star patient satisfaction ratings from the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and recognition as a 2022
National Rural Health Association Top 20 Rural and Community
Hospital. Increased access to remote telepsychiatry specialists is
expected to further improve the experiences of HaysMed's patients
and those who care for them. The service will be available to all
HaysMed patients.
"We are grateful to Sunflower Health Plan and the Centene
Foundation for contributing to this valuable service," said
Terry Siek, HaysMed chief nursing
officer. "With these additional resources in place, we are better
positioned to continue meeting the telepsychiatry needs of our
patients in rural Kansas and
beyond."
About Sunflower Health Plan:
Sunflower Health
Plan ("Sunflower") is a managed care organization established
to deliver quality healthcare in the state of Kansas through local, regional and
community-based resources, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC). Sunflower is committed to
improving the health of its beneficiaries through focused,
compassionate, and coordinated care in an approach based on the
core belief that quality healthcare is best delivered locally. For
more information, please visit www.sunflowerhealthplan.com.
About the Centene Foundation:
The Centene Foundation ("the Foundation"), a private nonprofit
focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the
philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation. The Foundation
supports projects and initiatives strategically aligned with
Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is
doing to remove the barriers to wellness underserved and low-income
populations face. The Foundation is committed to addressing social
determinants of health and improving health equity in three
distinct areas of focus: healthcare access, social services and
education. To learn more, visit the Centene
Foundation's website.
About Hays Medical Center Foundation:
The HaysMed
Foundation was established in 1995 to address the increasing
challenges faced by the medical community. Gifts to the HaysMed
Foundation provide vital philanthropic support to help fund
life-saving equipment, special projects and programs for HaysMed
that will positively impact the health of our region. To see our
recent projects, request contact, or make a contribution, visit the
HaysMed Foundation online.
About Hays Medical Center:
HaysMed is a private,
not-for-profit, 200+ bed hospital, and the only tertiary care
center in its region. Across its expansive network of care, it
shares a common mission, vision and set of values that guide
everything it does, both for its patients and the communities it
serves. Mission: To help people be healthy. Vision: To be
the best tertiary care center in rural America.
Values: Respect, Compassion, Spirituality, Trustworthiness,
Excellence and Professionalism. Online at www.haysmed.com.
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sunflower-health-plan-and-centene-foundation-announce-160-000-grant-to-hays-medical-center-foundation-302100137.html
SOURCE Sunflower Health Plan