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Kansas has seen one of the biggest drops in national health rankings, moving from 8th place in 1991 to 28th in 2024, according to a report from the Kansas Health Institute (KHI). A key concern is the growing death rate. Between 1999 and 2023, Kansas recorded 90 more deaths per 100,000 people than the U.S. average.

To find out why, KHI surveyed over 100 health leaders and experts across the state from August 2024 to March 2025. They identified 52 main concerns, with the top four being:

• Rural hospital and health care closures
• No Medicaid expansion
• Limited mental health services
• Low public health funding

Other issues included high rates of chronic disease and obesity, workforce shortages in rural areas, income inequality, housing challenges, and weak health systems. Experts stressed that these problems stem from policies and infrastructure, not just personal choices.

The full report is available on KHI’s website.