TOPEKA – With over 571,000 Kansas residents depending on Medicare for health coverage, now is the critical time to act. The annual Medicare Fall Open Enrollment period is underway, running from October 15th through December 7th. This is your once-a-year chance to review and make changes to your benefits that will take effect on January 1st of the following year.

“Medicare coverage and costs can vary widely, so KDADS wants to make sure people understand how important it is to compare their current coverage with other options each year during the open enrollment period,” KDADS Medicare Grants Coordinator Janet Boskill said. “We encourage Kansans to review their healthcare coverage options carefully to ensure they have the best plan to meet their needs and avoid being locked into their current plan for another year if it doesn’t meet those needs.”

By shopping available plans and comparing costs, beneficiaries may be able to find a Medicare health or drug plan with better coverage or a lower premium in 2026. Help is out there:

• The Medicare Plan Finder is an online tool for comparing pricing for Original Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies.
• 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help in English, Spanish, and more than 200 additional languages.
• Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas is a free program that offers Kansans unbiased assistance with questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. SHICK has counselors throughout the state to educate and assist the public in making informed decisions for each situation. This counseling service is free at l-800-860-5260.

Medicare Open Enrollment is a time for those enrolled in Medicare to review and adjust their coverage. During this period, participants can:

• Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
• Enroll, drop, or switch prescription drug plans (Part D).
• Switch Medicare Advantage plans (Part C).  (This can also be done during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1^st through March 31^st.)

Beneficiaries can only make changes during this annual window unless they qualify for a special enrollment period due to certain life events, such as moving or losing other insurance coverage.

Suppose you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan and don’t want to change your coverage for 2026. In that case, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment, assuming your current plan will still be available in 2026. If your plan is discontinued and isn’t eligible for renewal, you will receive a nonrenewal notice from your carrier before open enrollment.

Each year, there’s a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1^st through March 31^st. Suppose you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan and want to change your health plan. This is a time when you can review your coverage, switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage, or go back to your original Medicare. If needed, join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Changes to be aware of for 2026 include:

• Medicare Advantage
  • The average monthly Medicare Advantage plan premium changed from $9.54 in 2025 to $10.11 in 2026.
  • There are 87 Medicare Advantage plans available in Kansas for 2026, an increase from 80 in 2025.
  • 95.2% of people with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan.
  • $0 is the lowest monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan.
  • 95.92% of people with Medicare will have access to a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 monthly premium.

•  Medicare Part D
  • In 2026, 12 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans will be available. All individuals with Medicare have access to a Medicare prescription drug plan.
  • 66.26% of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan have access to a plan with a lower premium than what they paid in 2025.
  • 17.49% of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan get ‘Extra Help.’
  • $0 is the lowest monthly premium for a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan. $147 is the highest monthly premium.

Total Medicare Part D premiums will also remain stable. In 2026, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare prescription drug coverage will benefit from a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on their annual prescription drug costs, further making prescription drugs more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities. Because of the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare coverage already see improved benefits, including a $35 cost-sharing limit on a month’s supply of each covered insulin product and recommended adult vaccines under Medicare Part D at no cost.  The $35 cost-sharing limit on insulin does not include combination insulin products.  People with Medicare prescription drug coverage who fall into the catastrophic phase of the prescription drug benefit will not have to pay anything out of pocket for covered Medicare prescription drugs.

Additionally, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which will be offered by all Part D plans starting in 2025, will allow people with Medicare Part D coverage the option to spread the costs of their prescription drugs over the calendar year. Learn more about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan and how it may help people with Medicare.  Additionally, the Medicare prescription payment plan, first introduced in 2025, will continue to be offered by all Part D plans in 2026. This will allow people with Medicare Part D coverage the ability to spread the costs of their prescription drugs evenly over the course of the calendar year.

The Low-Income Subsidy Program, called ‘Extra Help,’ is a Medicare program that helps qualifying individuals pay Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. According to estimates, enrollees can save nearly $300 annually on average. Millions of seniors and people with disabilities can benefit from this program but aren’t enrolled. Individuals who enroll in MSPs automatically qualify for help affording prescription drugs through the “Extra Help’ program.

State-by-state fact Sheets are available at 2026-ma-part-d-landscape-state-state-fact-sheet.pdf (Kansas’s Fact Sheet is on pages 49-51).

If you have questions about Medicare Open Enrollment and would like help navigating through the complexities of it, please call our SHICK hotline at 1-800-860-5260 to speak with a free, unbiased, confidential counselor in your area today!

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Kansas Department of Labor Receives
NASCIO 2025 State Information Technology Recognition Award

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) announced Thursday that KDOL has received the 2025 State Information Technology (IT) Recognition Award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) in the category of Digital Experience: Agency/Program Solutions. This award, selected by peer states in the organization, celebrates KDOL’s innovative approach to overhauling the state’s aging unemployment benefits system and improving digital services for Kansas workers and employers.

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Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance meeting will be livestreamed 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance (KRHIA) will hold its second of three meetings on Oct. 16, as the 14 Governor-appointed alliance members support the application for the Kansas’ Rural Health Transformation Program.

The passage of H.R. 1 included $50 billion for the Rural Health Transformation Program. KRHIA is working with Kansas’ application development team as it prepares its plan for RHTP funding. The application must be submitted by Nov. 5. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will announce funding awards by Dec. 31.

The goal of the application is to support Kansas’ rural health systems, communities and patients in a holistic manner by improving access and outcomes through workforce development, education, systems change and technology.

The KRHIA held its first meeting on Oct. 9. The virtual meeting was livestreamed on YouTube and was available to view on the KDHE Rural Health Program webpage. The accessible recording will be available soon on the Kansas Rural Health Program webpage. The Oct. 16 event will be available for viewing the same way.

The final meeting will be held Oct. 20 and will also be available to view via livestream.

WHAT: Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance meeting

WHEN: 2-4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16

WHERE: KDHE YouTube page and the KDHE Rural Health Transformation Program webpage

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KVDL) at Kansas State University in collaboration with Bavarian Nordic and the One Health Commission Bat Rabies Education Team (BRET) are hosting a poster contest to educate children about rabies prevention in Kansas.

Kansas students from kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to participate. Winning submissions will receive a donation to their school as well as a personal prize. Submissions are due Jan. 30, 2026. More information can be found on the KVDL website.

This contest aims to raise awareness about rabies, the impacts it can have on ecosystems and how to prevent rabies transmission. Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease that can be transmitted to people by infected mammals. Wildlife such as bats, which are the origin of most human rabies cases in the United States, still play an integral role in the Kansas ecosystem through pollination and eating crop-destroying insects.

Not all wild animals have rabies, but recognizing the potential for wildlife rabies reservoirs to transmit rabies to humans and pets is crucial for rabies transmission prevention.

By following the theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” the posters submitted for this contest should highlight how individuals and communities can work together to prevent rabies.

For more information on rabies in Kansas, visit the KDHE rabies webpage.

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Kansas Game Wardens Close Investigation into 2023 Trophy Deer Poaching Case

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) today announced the successful closure of a wildlife poaching case involving the illegal harvest of a trophy deer in Kansas. The investigation, led by KDWP Game Wardens, concluded with a guilty plea from a Tennessee man who admitted to unlawfully taking the deer.

While investigating an unrelated poaching case in early 2024, Kansas Game Wardens learned that a trophy deer had been killed in Miami County, Kansas before being later tagged in Missouri.

Following this discovery, Game Wardens obtained a warrant for the suspect’s phone records, which confirmed his presence in Kansas during the timeframe of the photo. In late summer 2024, Kansas Game Wardens traveled to the Nashville area, where they seized the deer and later received a phone confession from the individual, who admitted to killing the deer in Kansas with a rifle and without a valid permit.

The suspect was prosecuted in Miami County, Kansas, and recently pled guilty to charges related to the illegal take. He was fined $5,000 and must also pay $3,960.50 in restitution and $108 in court costs.

KDWP’s Special Investigations Unit led the case, with support from the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The successful resolution underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting wildlife crimes, including complex cases that may span multiple jurisdictions and take years to conclude.

“Kansas Game Wardens are dedicated to protecting our state’s wildlife resources,” said Colonel Greg Kyser. “Most hunters respect the law and play a vital role in conservation. Unfortunately, bad actors undermine that trust and make it harder for everyone. This case demonstrates the persistence and professionalism of our officers, who work tirelessly to hold violators accountable and uphold the integrity of our hunting laws.”

KDWP enforces state and federal fish and wildlife regulations, boating laws, and public land rules across both private and public lands. Game Wardens also support emergency response efforts and collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Through education and outreach, KDWP promotes safe, ethical outdoor recreation and works to preserve Kansas’s natural heritage for future generations.

For more information about KDWP’s law enforcement and wildlife protection efforts, visit ksoutdoors.gov/Law-Enforcement.

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The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.gov.

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Labor will host the 75^th annual Industrial Safety and Health Conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, Kansas.

“Decades of Safety, the theme of this year’s conference, represents a milestone marking 75 years of commitment to the well-being of workers across various industries and a beacon of innovation and progress in our state,” said Amber Shultz, Secretary of Labor. “We gather with a shared commitment to advance safety and health in our workplaces, communities and beyond. Safety is not just a regulation, but a shared responsibility carried by all of us.”

The four-day event begins with a two-day conference featuring the latest in regulations, changes in laws and upcoming rules. The conference, hosted by the Division of Industrial Safety and Health, is tailored for professionals working in high-risk environments where safety is critical to operations. Additionally, the conference offers multiple continuing education classes and features highly anticipated vendors that display the latest in safety and health equipment and technology.

Event Details:

• Dates: October 14–17, 2025
• Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan, Kansas

For more information about the seminar agenda, please visit dol.ks.gov/ishconference and follow KDOL on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn using #safetyandhealthkansas.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) are alerting the public to the first known occurrence of the Asian longhorned tick (ALHT), Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Kansas. KDHE identified the ALHT after it was found on a dog in Franklin County last week.

ALHT is an exotic, invasive tick species that was first identified in the United States in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread westward across the U.S. and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has now been documented in 21 states, with Kansas being the most recent (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/asian-longhorned/asian-longhorned-tick-what-you-need-know).

“We have been monitoring the spread of the Asian longhorned tick, especially since it was confirmed in neighboring states,” Animal Health Commissioner Dr. Justin Smith said. “Now that it has been identified in Kansas, we have been in contact with accredited veterinarians across the state to remind them to be alert for this tick and to ensure they understand the risks.”

This prolific tick, which can reproduce without the need for a male tick, has both human and animal health implications. In 2019, an ALHT in Virginia was found to be infected with Bourbon virus, while Connecticut recently identified an ALHT infected with ehrlichiosis, both of which are tick-borne diseases that occur in Kansas but are currently transmitted by the Lone Star tick.

“We’re still learning about this tick and the ecologic role that it currently plays and may play in the future in terms of disease transmission to humans.” Dr. Erin Petro, KDHE State Public Health Veterinarian, said. “While the human health implications are uncertain, this tick has serious implications for animal health.”

The ALHT can cause extreme infestations on affected animals, sometimes leading to severe anemia or even exsanguination. Beyond the physical threat, the ALHT also transmits the cattle parasite Theileria orientalis Ikeda strain, which causes bovine theileriosis.

In 2024, KDHE piloted a program to create a passive tick surveillance network of veterinary clinics throughout the state. Through this program, participating clinics submit tick samples from animals in their care to KDHE for identification. This program has been successful in providing information on where various ticks are found across the state and has been especially useful in under-surveyed areas. One of these partners submitted a routine sample which was later identified as ALHT by KDHE and confirmed by the USDA. In both humans and animals, tick bite prevention is key.

To reduce the risk of disease, follow these precautions:

• Be aware of where ticks are found and using preventive measures when in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas.
• Dress preventively by wearing long pants tucked into socks and shirt tucked into pants.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
• Use an EPA-approved repellent such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) when enjoying the outdoors or being in a tick habitat.
• After coming indoors, perform a thorough tick check, being sure to focus on the waistband, under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of knees, and in and around the hair.
• Check pets for ticks, especially around the tail, between the back legs, under the front legs, between the toes, in and around the ears, around the eyes, and under the collar.
• Shower soon after being in a tick habitat or engaging in outdoor activities. This will help remove any unattached ticks and identify any attached ticks.
• To remove attached ticks, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick near the skin, and apply gentle traction strait outwards until the tick is removed.
• Help prevent tick-borne diseases and tick infestations on pets by consulting with your veterinarian on use of a veterinary-approved flea and tick preventative.
• More information on tick bite prevention and controlling ticks in your environment can be found at Preventing Tick Bites | Ticks | CDC.

For more information on the Asian longhorned tick including where it has been found in the US, visit the USDA Longhorned Tick Story Map at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/asian-longhorned/asian-longhorned-tick-what-you-need-know. To find more information on other ticks, their geographic distributions, and the diseases they transmit in Kansas, visit KDHE’s Tickborne Disease Data Stories at https://maps.kdhe.state.ks.us/kstbdhome/.

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ROOMS Grants Available for Upper-Floor Housing in Main Street Communities

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $250,000 is available under the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) grant program to support new upper-floor housing in commercial buildings in Designated Kansas Main Street communities.

“Rural downtowns are full of history and character — and many have unused upper-floor spaces that could be utilized for additional housing options,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These funds give our community leaders the resources to turn these historic assets into vibrant, livable spaces — and increase the number of customers within a short walk of downtown restaurants and shops.”

Upper-floor investments play an important role in addressing the affordable and quality housing shortage, which regularly is identified as a major issue across the state. Creating new housing opportunities enhances the overall livability and functionality of downtowns. Equally, these funds can result in increased investment, improved infrastructure, positive cycle of economic growth, stronger tax base and a greater sense of place and community identity.

“Through the Kansas Main Street program, we aim to work with communities who are eager to build their capacity in developing upper-floor housing in downtown buildings,” Kansas Main Street Interim Director Debbie Deere said. “Through these grant opportunities, we can continue to increase local housing stock — while maintaining the unique characteristics of our downtown buildings.”

ROOMS funds will be available to applicants within active Designated Kansas Main Street communities for projects that lead directly to housing creation or retention in upper floors of existing buildings in downtown areas. Projects must incorporate Main Street design standards and follow local ordinances and codes for improvements.

More details about ROOMS can be found here. For more information about the Kansas Main Street program, click here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

About the Quality Places Division:

Established in 2024, the Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce exists to improve quality of life in communities across the state through various programs and services. The Kansas Department of Commerce understands the immense role played by strong communities in economic development and prioritizes investments in people and communities as major contributors to the overall strength of the Kansas economy. To learn more, click here.

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