News and Updates

A new APS vendor, Integrated Psychiatric Consultants (IPC), is  a Kansas company with over 20 years of industry experience, and is now offering cost-effective, contracted behavioral health solutions to APS members. [Read More…]

Please join us for a very informative Lunch & Learn/Webinar, with Monica Lelevich, Director of Audit Services at 11 a.m. CST, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. PARA HealthCare Analytics offers a selection of many services, including Consulting, Accounts Receivable Recovery, Share of Cost, Charge Master Review, Claim Review, PARA Data Maintenance, Pharmacy Pricing Analysis, Physician Practice Pricing Analysis, PARA Data Editor PDE™ (a web-based system that assists hospitals with revenue cycle functions), and PARA Revenue Integrity Program.. [Read More…]

Please join us for a very informative Lunch & Learn/Webinar, with Jon Gaffer, Director of Business Development for Greenstaff Medical USA, at 11 a.m. CST, Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Greenstaff offers long-term nurse staffing solutions for APS Members, and is a global staffing agency that partners with hospitals to deliver RNs in more than 60 specialty areas. [Read More…]

I wish to inform you of the current status of our electric service in Kansas and Missouri. We are part of the Southwest Power Pool, and the SPP is close to an all-time high of electric usage. Currently, there is no emergency, but, the environment can change quickly. I request all facilities to check the status of your emergency electric power. Please perform all testing, maintenance, and verify the emergency power is ready to perform. We do not want a surprise, like last February 2021, with the natural gas business. The below is an update from Jim Zakoura, our APS legal counsel. APS participates in the Natural Gas Group, and KIC for Electric issues with Evergy.

Kansas and the 14 states of the Southwest Power Pool are predicted to experience high temperatures today (and throughout this week), that will range to 105 degrees. [Read More…]

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, on behalf of the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC):

Updates on a couple of important energy matters.

Last Friday, June 10, 2022, Kansas Gas Service (KGS) filed its “Monthly Net Cost of Gas,” for June 2022. The total KGS Cost of Gas for June 2022 is as follows:

• $8.37 per unit – Cost of Natural Gas in June 2022 (An 83.36% increase, year-over-year) Cost of Gas in June 2021 – $4.54 per unit
• $1.12 – Cost of Hedges to protect against further steep cost increases
• $0.19 – Weather normalization adjustment
• $0.11 – Ad Valorem taxes
• $9.79 per unit in total for June 2022

The Evergy Integrated Resource Plan Update – was filed on June 10, 2022.

• Evergy updated its Integrated Resource Plan, that sets forth forecasted electric generation additions and retirements in the period 2024 through 2032.
• Evergy plans to retire a material amount of coal fired generation assets and replace those assets with additions of wind energy and solar energy.
• Irrespective of any public policy considerations that may impact this process – – for our client group, this process is likely to drive materially higher, retail electric rates in Kansas.
• This massive recasting of the electric industry in Kansas, is very concerning, to say the least.
• We need to remain in close contact with our elected state officials, and those appointed state officials with responsibility for electric resource adequacy and retail electric rates, to assure that through this process, Kansas has reliable and continuous electric service, at regionally competitive rates.  [Read More…]

A new APS vendor, Greenstaff Medical U.S., is available to help hospital members overcome nursing shortages by providing foreign-trained registered nurses qualified across a range of specialties. [Read More…]

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, on behalf of the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC):

On April 1 of each year, Evergy “trues up” its estimated fuel and purchased power costs, for the prior year.

Because of the likely inaccurate estimate of power fuel costs due to steeply rising natural gas costs, retail electric customers will likely pay material “true up costs” through the Evergy – “Retail Energy Cost Adjustment” clause of its KCC Tariff – – for the prior year – – beginning on April 1, 2023.

May 25, 2022, NYMEX Futures Price in Red

KGS Actual, Historical Prices in Black

May 26, 2022 NYMEX Futures in Blue

https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/energy/natural-gas/natural-gas.settlements.html [Read More…]

APS members, Snacks on Racks has made changes to their price file, on our APS agreement, for distribution of bulk and packaged candy and snacks. Specific pricing impact may vary, based on your institution’s volume. Refer to the contract page to view pricing and other contract details.

The regulatory environment for 340B pharmacy is in a constant state of change, requiring eligible entities to be nimble and disciplined in the management of their program. Navigating the current ecosystem of 340B pricing limitations created by Big Pharma requires an understanding of the current regulatory environment. This webinar will provide insights that will support decisions that position your entity to maintain a compliant and optimized 340B pharmacy program. Register now for this informative webinar event.  [Read More…]

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, on behalf of the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC):

Very late Friday afternoon, the Joint Movants ( Evergy, the KCC Staff, the Citizens” Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB), and the Kansas Electric Power Cooperative (KEPCO) filed the “Joint Motion to Approve Non-Unanimous Stipulation and Agreement.”

[Read More…]

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, on behalf of the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC):

In Kansas and Kansas City Metro, Evergy estimates for the coming calendar year, estimated electric generation fuel costs and purchased power costs. The estimate is “trued up” as to actual costs and volumes sold, on April 1 of each year – the “actual cost adjustment.”

The material escalation of natural gas costs over the last couple of months, will likely cause earlier estimates of electric costs, to be lower than the actual costs for 2022 – causing a material upward adjustment in electric costs on April 1, 2023 (a “catch up” of actual costs.)

Increased natural gas prices will likely drive 2 outcomes: (i) higher electric prices because of higher fuel costs of natural gas fired electric generation; and (ii) increased coal fired electric generation, to moderate / lessen the use and costs on natural gas.

Because of seasonality of wind, there is less wind energy available in the summer, as compared to the spring.

Increased natural gas costs for electric generation – NYMEX Henry Hub Futures Contract (see screen shot). End of Day – Settlement Price on NYMEX in “Blue.”

Summer prices:
May 2021 – $2.74 per MMBtu
May 2022 – $7.58 per MMBtu ($7.76 per MMBtu) ($7.82 / MMBtu)
June 2021 – $3.09 per MMBtu
June 2022 – $7.70 per MMBtu ($7.89 per MMBtu) ($7.95 / MMBtu)
July 2021 – $3.70 per MMBtu
July 2022 – $7.78 per MMBtu ($7.97 per MMBtu) ($8.04 / MMBtu)
August 2021 – $4.07 per MMBtu
August 2022 – $7.78 per MMBtu ($7.97 per MMBtu) ($8.03 / MMBtu)

Winter prices:
December 2021 – $4.50 per MMBtu
December 2022 – $8.03 per MMBtu ($8.18 per MMBtu) ($8.26 / MMBtu)
January 2022 – $4.05 per MMBtu
January 2023 – $8.13 per MMBtu ($8.30 per MMBtu) ($8.36 / MMBtu)

[Read More…]

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, on behalf of the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC):

Effective immediately, Jeff Stanley, jeff.stanley@stericycle.com, will now be overseeing APS Member accounts as the National Account Manager for Shred-it. Jeff has been working within the Secure Information Destruction (SID) sector for many years, his National Account Management Experience with FMs, GPOs, and “Direct” mandated accounts. He joined Cintas in 2006, moving into Cintas Document Destruction shortly... [Read More »]

With Russia moving into Ukraine, the world is worried about the impacts on cybersecurity. Russian tactics have been known to cause collateral damage – globally. The risk is real. CISA and the FBI have published multiple alerts admonishing the private sector to prepare. Businesses, local municipalities, healthcare organizations, and supply chain organizations should pay attention... [Read More »]

APS Member hospitals now have access to a breakthrough technology that can lower energy and water costs by dramatically decreasing cooling tower water contamination. Please join us for an informative webinar to discuss the advanced open loop condenser cleaning system – ElectroCell Particle Precipitator System, offered by Managed Energy Systems.The ElectroCell Particle Precipitator System uses... [Read More »]

The APS Natural Gas Program Steering Committee has made its recommendation and awarded the Natural Gas category bid to WoodRiver Energy. The new agreement will be effective April 1, 2022. WoodRiver Energy’s proposal to APS will provide a range of natural gas solutions to fit your unique budget and operational needs. This new agreement will... [Read More »]

Upcoming Critical Insight, Cybersecurity Awareness Training: You might not know it, but you fight crime every day! When you look at spam and avoid the link, you’ve saved yourself and your company from the crooks. But the bad guys are getting better at what they do and you need to up your crimefighting game. In... [Read More »]

APS member hospitals now have access to a breakthrough technology that can lower energy and water costs by dramatically decreasing cooling tower water contamination. Managed Energy Systems is offering the ElectroCell Particle Precipitator System. [Read More…]

APS Members: Per the terms of our written agreement with Office Depot, this email serves as notification that due to rising material and commodity costs, some of the items you purchase will be increasing in price beginning on January 15, 2022. While Office Depot strives to maintain low costs through diligent negotiation with their suppliers... [Read More »]

To learn more, go to the APS website.

Office Depot is offering the New HP Big Deal Pricing for APS Members, effective January 01, 2022. Go to the APS website to learn more.

Office Depot Business Rewards Program for APS Members: On Office Depot’s website you will find a member list with a new column indicating whether you have a Business Rewards account or not. Also on their website please find an overview of the program for you to review at your convenience. There is a minimum annual... [Read More »]

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, regarding the November 23, 2021 KCC Business Meeting – Evergy STP Order. [Read More…]

Koch Filter amendment agreement and price file, goes into effect on December 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023. Go to the APS website to learn more about Koch Filter.

APS is once again providing big savings for members using the Office Depot agreement to purchase HP toner and ink products. APS members have access to the lowest prices nationwide on HP inks and toners with the renewal of the HP Supplies Big Deal. This will go into effect on January 1, 2022. Go to... [Read More »]

APS Members, North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City, MO, has a surplus of face shields that are available, NO COST, to APS members. Please contact Barbara Wolfgeher, if you are interested in some of these face shields for your facility. The face shields are 50/case. Barbara Wolfgeher, Director of Procurement Operations-Supply Chain Services, (816) 691-5409 or barbara.wolfgeher@nkch.org.

Jim-Dar Enterprises is a Kansas City-based minority-owned business providing Staph Chek® Pillows to the healthcare industry. Jim-Dar & Company, LLC is a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certified Kansas City-based vendor serving the region with quality products and second-to-none customer service. Go to the APS website to learn more about... [Read More »]

Office Depot is offering their 2022 Calendar options, Holiday & Promotional items, along with their Program Overview, to APS Members. Go to the APS website to learn more about Office Depot.

Healthcare workers suffer 50% of all workplace assaults! Prevent workplace violence with eLearning from HSS. COVID-19 and over utilization of hospitals is making training and safety a higher priority than ever before! Now HSS is making its award-winning TEAM® (Techniques for Effective Aggression Management) more efficient and effective than ever before by delivering it to you online! [Read More…]

To learn more, go to the APS website.

The Class Action Capital agreement with APS has auto-renewed and is now effective through January 31, 2023. To learn more, go to the APS website.

Available on the APS website, APS Staffing, partnered and powered by Qualivis, has a recording of the webinar, State of the Market and qualitative market research study, “Mind the Gap,” both presented by AYA Healthcare. A division of APS, the APS Staffing Program is a stand-alone service available to any health care organization in Kansas and Missouri, regardless of your group purchasing affiliation. You can count on the APS Staffing Program for your health care organization’s diverse staffing needs. [Read More…]

APS is providing, to our members, Office Depot’s price updates, effective October 17, 2021 (due to rising material and commodity costs). To learn more, click on Office Depot’s Price Updates.

APS is providing, to our members, Staples price updates, effective September 14, 2021. To learn more, click on Staples Price File.

Statement of Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, on behalf of the Natural Gas Transportation Customer Coalition (NGTCC): We are disappointed with today’s KCC Order, refusing to issue a Subpoena for the records of Platts Gas Daily Index.  [Read More…]

The 2021/22 winter prices for natural gas are likely to increase further. Below is the pricing table from Jim Zakoura, attorney and consumer advocate, Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered. Jim Zakoura was quoted in the following link regarding his efforts for natural gas transportation customers in Kansas and Missouri.  [Read More…]

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, has a new product offering, Bullard Salus PAPR that is designed for Healthcare. [Read More…]

The environment for 340B retail pharmacy is in a constant state of change, requiring eligible entities to be nimble and disciplined in the management of their program. Learn more of the Best Practices in Managing 340 Pharmacy. Register now for this informative webinar event.  [Read More…]

APS is providing, to our members, Office Depot’s price updates, effective September 06, 2021 (due to rising material and commodity costs). To learn more, click on Office Depot’s Price Updates.

Koch Filter’s goal is to exceed customer expectations and ensure quality products that are delivered as quickly as possible with their industry-best lead times and unsurpassed service. Their knowledgeable customer service team and network of dedicated regional managers are always ready to help with any questions you may have. [Read More…]

APS Members, as you may have heard, Florida hospitals are treating the highest number of COVID-19 patients since the pandemic began, straining the supply of medical oxygen. Hospital officials have said their oxygen needs are being met but, the oxygen supply chain is strained. [Read More…]

APS Members, Staples has now expanded their product offering to include business/office products and equipment. If you’d like to participate in the APS Program, for Staples products, please directly email Tricia Cano, Regional Sales Director at patricia.cano@staples.com. [Read More…]

APS Members, please join us for an informative lunch & learn webinar to discuss Locum Tenens and educational content on how hospitals can best utilize locum providers, offered by Qualivis. [Read More…]

Click on the APS Catalog of Services link to learn more about APS and how we can serve you and your community!

KHA and APS would like to assist their members through the crisis of extremely high natural gas pricing. APS has engaged Jim Zakoura, Smithyman & Zakoura, Charted, to assist. They will provide a “Payment Under Protest” letter on how to proceed with short paying your bill (regardless of who your gas supplier may be), based... [Read More »]

APS members can now take advantage of  comprehensive locum tenens solution through Qualivis, your provider of temporary allied health and traveling workforce services. [Read More…]

CorroHealth, delivers best-in-class medical coding and revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions at below-market rates is now available exclusively to APS member-organizations. [Read More…]

Alert from CI Security on ransomware attacks by Ryuk on Healthcare and Manufacturing.

We are hearing from multiple channels that several hospitals have been hit by ransomware in what is sounding like a coordinated attack. We are hearing on DHS/FBI industry outreach channels that the number may be in the dozens. [Read More…]

For hospitals, ensuring robust cybersecurity has never been more important or more challenging. CI Security’s cybersecurity solution offers affordable network monitoring and detection, managed detection response services, rapid threat identification and it is a cost-effective approach. [Read More…]

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Readiness Rounds developed Well Screen™, an entirely automated comprehensive entrance protocol, in response to the needs of their clients who were facing new challenges with building access entrance processes, critical PPE management, and visitor management. [Read More…]

PARA HealthCare Analytics, an HFRI Company, was founded in 1985 to provide reimbursement, pricing, coding and contract management services to hospitals. [Read More…]

Longtime APS Furnishing Vendor Under New Ownership, Remains Committed to Delivering Comprehensive and Cost-Effective Solutions. [Read More…]

Safely monitor with ThermoVu™. TrustThinkProducts, based in De Soto, Kansas, is the distributor for ThermoVu™, a non-contact temperature measuring instrument that measures temperature via the wrist. [Read More…]

Please join us for one of these informative 340B Developments webinar events with speaker Aaron Lott, PhD, MPH, MBA, CEO and Founder of AuthorityRx. AuthorityRx specializes in 340B compliance and referral savings capture, helps organizations tighten 340B guideline adherence to withstand potential Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) audits, and uses automated solutions to identify unrealized 340B savings opportunities available through existing referral relationships.

Register now for one of the following 45-minute webinars, exclusively for APS members:

• Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. CT/12:30 p.m. ET. 
• Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. CT/3:00 p.m. ET

Or, for more information, contact Dennis George at (913) 327-8730.
—Dennis George

[Read More…]

APS is excited to share information about a new partner, phas3, that provides a clinically-validated digital health management platform for remote monitoring of cardiac patients. [Read More…]

VitalTech, a new turnkey telehealth platform, can help APS members ensure that at-risk patients continue to receive the care they need from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The solution also creates a new revenue stream for physician groups struggling due to pandemic-related office visit and procedure cancellations.

VitalCare is a proprietary Connected Care platform that enables health systems, providers, physicians and living facilities to streamline workflows while improving health outcomes, increasing patient safety and lowering the cost of care. VitalCare is owned by VitalTech, a rapidly growing provider of fully integrated digital health solutions and smart biomedical wearables that provide real-time remote patient monitoring. For more information or a free consultation, please email info@vitaltech.com or visit their website at www.vitaltech.com. [Read More…]

Based in Pennsylvania, SUNRx provides automated solutions that help community health organizations manage 340B, PAP, GPO and other discount drug programs and comply with government regulations. For nearly a decade, SUNRx provided pharmacy benefit management solutions to large employer groups. In 2007, it partnered with leading community health administrators, doctors and pharmacists to develop from the ground up its flagship 340B simplified solution.s. [Read More…]

A remote cybersecurity managed detection and response (MDR) solution now available to APS members can rapidly identify breach threats and potential security incidents inside your network.

Offered by Seattle-based CI Security, Critical Insight™ MDR can be deployed quickly and seamlessly across any IT infrastructure to monitor your internal network activity 24/7, 365 days a year. Security incidents and breaches are identified in seconds, investigated fully and reported rapidly, far faster than the IT industry average of up to 200 days. [Read More…]

A state-of-the-art disinfectant system now available to APS members can kill the most dangerous pathogens, including COVID-19, while greatly improving application efficacy and accelerating terminal clean turnaround times.

Offered by Independence, Missouri-based HI Prevention, the disinfectant system combines an air-assisted electrostatic sprayer with NoroxyCdiff, a potent antimicrobial originally developed for the food industry that produces a 6-log kill rate at a dwell time approximately half that of bleached-based products. [Read More…]

New APS partnership announces savings for a new home-based cardiac rehab application. Offered by St. Louis-based, phas3, the telehealth solution can also help transform hospital cardiac rehab programs into profit centers and reduce readmissions rates. phas3’s remote capabilities are especially valuable as a means of limiting rehab patient infection risk amid the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read More…]

Providing clean, safe, healthy facilities is more than just buying cleaning supplies and equipment. [Read More…]

APS and Voss Lighting introduce Puro and their breakthrough germicidal ultraviolet fixtures. [Read More…]

APS Workforce Solutions, a joint venture of KHA and MHA, announces their addition of a fully managed staffing service to their staffing program. [Read More…]

New Partnership Offers Discounted Lighting Products and System Design. [Read More…]

Fill Physician Vacancies Quickly with Fidelis, May 8, 2019. [Read More…]

Practical Problem-Solving for Small Hospitals and Clinics. [Read More…]

APS Staffing now offers fully managed staffing services via SymmetryMSP. [Read More…]

APS – Proven Solutions with Cost-Effective Care.

APS Staffing – Proven Solutions with Cost-Effective Care.