Making Every Dollar Count: The 2025 LHD Billing Symposium Showcases Public Health Heroes
On April 22 and 23, 2025, over a hundred professionals from across Kansas gathered at the WSU Hughes Metroplex for the 2025 Local Health Department (LHD) Billing Symposium—a two-day event that did more than just talk numbers. It highlighted the unsung champions behind the scenes of public health: billing and finance staff who help ensure essential services reach their communities.
A Strong Turnout from Across the State
The event drew 124 registered participants, representing 67 counties across Kansas. Robust participation from sponsors and presenters added to the first day conversations.
Connecting Through Purposeful Programming
The Symposium featured a thoughtfully curated agenda, chosen by a dedicated design team to reflect the real challenges and innovations shaping public health finance today. Sessions ranged from updates on state-run programs to practical workshops designed to empower attendees.
Highlights included:
- A powerful keynote from the Kansas Association for Local Health Departments (KALHD).
- Engaging overviews of Kansas Department of Health and Environment initiatives, covering immunizations, family planning, community health workers, and farmworker outreach.
- Breakout sessions on the Kansas Medication Assistance Program website, financial management, and building effective billing systems.
- A highly anticipated presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its emerging role in billing operations.
- Breakout sessions on Electronic Health Records (EHR) commonly used by LHDs addressing the growing demand for smarter digital tools. Two of the sessions featured representation from the EHR companies, answering even more questions than expected.
- A game-inspired Q&A segment where attendees shaped the discussion by creating a “Wheel of Topics” from their questions posed. This is always a fun time for the group.
Participants also had exclusive access to Medicaid Managed Care Organization representatives on Day 1, giving them direct avenues to clarify billing and claims questions—often a rare opportunity.
Feedback that Fuels Growth
Feedback from 67 formal evaluations painted a clear picture: the Symposium hit the mark. Between 78% and 94% of respondents rated the event positively across all areas. Many shared their excitement about every session, with a few voicing a strong desire for even deeper dives into key topics, especially AI and EHR systems.
The financial breakout sessions, led by Bethany Jantzen, stood out for reframing billing not just as a numbers game, but as a critical pillar of public health infrastructure. While some newer billing staff expressed a need for more beginner-friendly content, the overall tone was one of enthusiasm and connection.
Looking Ahead
Perhaps the strongest signal of success was the overwhelming call to continue this momentum. Attendees praised the Symposium for helping build bridges between LHD billing and finance professionals across the state—a need that has never been more pressing.
Suggestions for next year include:
- Expanding sessions on fee-for-service billing in public health.
- Offering more targeted content for newcomers.
- Providing more EHR-focused time with vendors.
As one participant wrote, “I finally feel like I’m not alone in this work.” That sense of belonging—and the practical tools to back it up—are what made the 2025 LHD Billing Symposium not just a conference, but a catalyst for stronger, smarter public health systems across Kansas.
