Grant Expands Access to Behavioral Health Services in Rural Kansas

Sunflower Health Plan and The Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation, awarded the HaysMed Foundation a $160,000 grant to provide on-demand and scheduled telepsychiatry services at HaysMed.

The grant 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.”

“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.”