Kansas Common Sense
Applauding $222 Million Investment for Kansas Rural Hospitals
This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Kansas will receive $222 million for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. This allotment will be awarded for 2026, the first year of the five-year program. The RHT program was created in the Reconciliation Bill to direct CMS to work with states to identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invest in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers.
The RHT program is a significant investment in rural health care and will help improve outcomes for struggling hospitals, invest in new technology and bolster rural communities. I worked with my colleagues to establish this fund as part of the Reconciliation Bill, and these resources will now be tailored to meet the individual needs of rural health care in each state with no match required by the state. I look forward to working with our health care leaders and state leaders to make certain Kansas providers are able to use these resources to improve the long-term success of rural providers. You can learn more here.
2025 Year in Review
I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet with Kansans and hear their ideas and concerns. As 2025 comes to a close, here is a look at some of the efforts my office has made to support Kansans. If you need assistance with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare, or veterans’ affairs, or if you have other concerns regarding federal issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Learn more about our office services at moran.senate.gov.
USDA Announces Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the commodity per-acre payment rates for eligible crops under the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. Farmers should expect pre-filled applications to come in the mail, with payments expected to be made by the end of February. For more information regarding the FBA program and per-acre payment rates, you can visit the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) website here or visit your local FSA office with any additional questions you might have.
U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela
On Saturday, the U.S. Department of Justice, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense, conducted a military operation in Venezuela, leading to the capture of illegitimate dictator and narcotrafficker, Nicholas Maduro and his wife, both of whom were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. I commend the U.S. forces and intelligence community for a successful mission with the capture of Nicolas Maduro, who will now face justice on American soil. The Senate returns to Washington this week, and I look forward to briefings on future efforts in Venezuela.
Touring Kansas Hospitals
Russell Regional Hospital
On Monday, I toured Russell Regional Hospital and spoke with hospital leadership about their efforts to provide critical health care to the Russell community. We also discussed the recently announced $222 million awarded to Kansas through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program to invest in and improve outcomes for rural hospitals. Thank you to Director of Human Resources Stephanie Flegler and Director of Communications Janae Talbott for hosting me. I also appreciated Russell County Commission Chair Duke Strobel, Russell Mayor Jim Cross, Russell Economic Development Director Mike Parsons and City Council President Dustin Madden joining me on my tour.
Republic County Hospital
On Tuesday, I toured Republic County Hospital in Belleville to learn more about the wide array of healthcare services they provide. Republic County Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital that offers acute care, as well as swing bed and outpatient clinic services to the community. Special thanks to CEO Dan Kelly for hosting me and to Belleville City Manager Adam Anderson, former Kansas State Rep. Clay Aurand and Kansas Farmers Union Executive Director Nick Levendofsky for joining me on my tour.
Visits Across Kansas
Hays Rotary Club
I attended my local Rotary Club in Hays this week to speak with my fellow Rotarians about some of my top priorities are to help Kansans. We discussed a variety of topics including veterans issues, tariffs, agriculture, healthcare, education, broadband, small businesses and the importance of rural communities. Thank you to Club President Grover Musser for the invitation to speak. It was also great to have Mayor Sandy Jacobs, Sheriff Scott Braun, my former boss Joe Jeter and many other local leaders attend.
Haddam Community Visit
This week, I traveled to Haddam to visit with members of the community. During my visit, I stopped by Central Valley Ag Coop, Union State Bank and the Haddam Café. Thank you to the Haddam community for welcoming me and taking the time to meet with me.
Kansas Radio Interviews to Discuss 2026 Legislative Priorities
WIBW
To start the new year, I joined WIBW’s Greg Akagi on Thursday morning to discuss Congressional efforts in 2026 for rural healthcare and the agricultural economy. We discussed the $222 million Kansas received through the Rural Health Transformation Program to invest in rural hospitals across our state. We also talked about the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with USDA recently announcing the full list of per-acre payment rates for eligible crops under the program. Thank you to Greg for the conversations regarding these important issues.
You can listen to my full interview with WIBW's Greg Akagi here.
Eagle Radio
This week, I also joined Eagle Radio’s Marc Jacobs on his radio show to discuss issues facing farmers, ranchers and producers across our state. We discussed the USDA FBA program, as well as agricultural tariff negotiations and the work we are doing on the Senate Agriculture Committee to improve the lives of farmers and producers in Kansas and across our country. Thank you to Marc for having me on his show. You can learn more from Eagle Radio here.
This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Kansas will receive $222 million for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. This allotment will be awarded for 2026, the first year of the five-year program. The RHT program was created in the Reconciliation Bill to direct CMS to work with states to identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invest in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers.
Visit to Ness County Hospital on May 29, 2025
The RHT program is a significant investment in rural health care and will help improve outcomes for struggling hospitals, invest in new technology and bolster rural communities. I worked with my colleagues to establish this fund as part of the Reconciliation Bill, and these resources will now be tailored to meet the individual needs of rural health care in each state with no match required by the state. I look forward to working with our health care leaders and state leaders to make certain Kansas providers are able to use these resources to improve the long-term success of rural providers. You can learn more here.
2025 Year in Review
I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet with Kansans and hear their ideas and concerns. As 2025 comes to a close, here is a look at some of the efforts my office has made to support Kansans. If you need assistance with federal agencies such as Social Security, Medicare, or veterans’ affairs, or if you have other concerns regarding federal issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Learn more about our office services at moran.senate.gov.
USDA Announces Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the commodity per-acre payment rates for eligible crops under the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. Farmers should expect pre-filled applications to come in the mail, with payments expected to be made by the end of February. For more information regarding the FBA program and per-acre payment rates, you can visit the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) website here or visit your local FSA office with any additional questions you might have.
U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela
On Saturday, the U.S. Department of Justice, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense, conducted a military operation in Venezuela, leading to the capture of illegitimate dictator and narcotrafficker, Nicholas Maduro and his wife, both of whom were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. I commend the U.S. forces and intelligence community for a successful mission with the capture of Nicolas Maduro, who will now face justice on American soil. The Senate returns to Washington this week, and I look forward to briefings on future efforts in Venezuela.
Touring Kansas Hospitals
Russell Regional Hospital
On Monday, I toured Russell Regional Hospital and spoke with hospital leadership about their efforts to provide critical health care to the Russell community. We also discussed the recently announced $222 million awarded to Kansas through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program to invest in and improve outcomes for rural hospitals. Thank you to Director of Human Resources Stephanie Flegler and Director of Communications Janae Talbott for hosting me. I also appreciated Russell County Commission Chair Duke Strobel, Russell Mayor Jim Cross, Russell Economic Development Director Mike Parsons and City Council President Dustin Madden joining me on my tour.
Republic County Hospital
On Tuesday, I toured Republic County Hospital in Belleville to learn more about the wide array of healthcare services they provide. Republic County Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital that offers acute care, as well as swing bed and outpatient clinic services to the community. Special thanks to CEO Dan Kelly for hosting me and to Belleville City Manager Adam Anderson, former Kansas State Rep. Clay Aurand and Kansas Farmers Union Executive Director Nick Levendofsky for joining me on my tour.
Visits Across Kansas
Hays Rotary Club
I attended my local Rotary Club in Hays this week to speak with my fellow Rotarians about some of my top priorities are to help Kansans. We discussed a variety of topics including veterans issues, tariffs, agriculture, healthcare, education, broadband, small businesses and the importance of rural communities. Thank you to Club President Grover Musser for the invitation to speak. It was also great to have Mayor Sandy Jacobs, Sheriff Scott Braun, my former boss Joe Jeter and many other local leaders attend.
Haddam Community Visit
This week, I traveled to Haddam to visit with members of the community. During my visit, I stopped by Central Valley Ag Coop, Union State Bank and the Haddam Café. Thank you to the Haddam community for welcoming me and taking the time to meet with me.
Kansas Radio Interviews to Discuss 2026 Legislative Priorities
WIBW
To start the new year, I joined WIBW’s Greg Akagi on Thursday morning to discuss Congressional efforts in 2026 for rural healthcare and the agricultural economy. We discussed the $222 million Kansas received through the Rural Health Transformation Program to invest in rural hospitals across our state. We also talked about the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with USDA recently announcing the full list of per-acre payment rates for eligible crops under the program. Thank you to Greg for the conversations regarding these important issues.
You can listen to my full interview with WIBW's Greg Akagi here.
Eagle Radio
This week, I also joined Eagle Radio’s Marc Jacobs on his radio show to discuss issues facing farmers, ranchers and producers across our state. We discussed the USDA FBA program, as well as agricultural tariff negotiations and the work we are doing on the Senate Agriculture Committee to improve the lives of farmers and producers in Kansas and across our country. Thank you to Marc for having me on his show. You can learn more from Eagle Radio here.
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