By Trish Svoboda

Aetna Better Health of Kansas, a CVS Health company, announced in a release, a donation of $100,000 to the Kansas University Endowment Association. This donation from Aetna aims to contribute towards addressing the healthcare requirements of rural Kansas residents. The funds will support the Barton County Community Health Needs Assessment and Improvement Plan (CHNAIP), a program designed to pinpoint needs and work to close gaps in healthcare accessibility and resources within communities.

CHNAIP will create a custom healthcare program for rural Kansas, starting with a pilot in Barton County and then extending to other rural counties across the state. Aetna’s contribution will help to fund salaries, travel, and other project-related expenses.

For this project, the Kansas Center for Rural Health is collaborating with The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus, local nonprofits, health departments, schools, and insurance providers, to assess the existing health requirements of individuals and families within the community.