We are pleased to announce that LMH Health is one of five independent Kansas health systems joining together to form Astra Health, a new regional healthcare collaboration designed to improve patient care, strengthen access to specialty services, and deliver more affordable healthcare options for employers and communities across Kansas. By working together, participating health systems can accelerate quality improvement efforts, strengthen local healthcare services, and help more patients receive high-quality care close to home. You can find the official Astra Health announcement here.

Shelly Kortkamp

Founded by LMH Health, Amberwell Health, Newman Regional Health, Salina Regional Health Center, and The University of Kansas Health System, Astra Health represents a new model of collaboration among independent health systems committed to preserving local healthcare and local system independence, while leveraging shared resources that no individual organization could efficiently develop on its own.

The purpose of Astra Health aligns with our three primary goals at LMH—improving our margin, providing an exceptional patient experience and growing access to care. The partnership will help participating hospitals improve quality, share best practices, enhance performance measurement, and strengthen care delivery in the communities they serve. By improving local care capabilities, Astra Health will help more patients receive high-quality care close to home. In addition to improving access, Astra Health will pursue innovative strategies that reduce the overall cost of healthcare. One of its first initiatives will be the development of direct-to-employer health plan solutions, providing employers with high-quality, lower-cost healthcare options while improving access and affordability for employees and their families.

Healthcare is changing rapidly, and no organization can solve today’s challenges alone. Astra Health allows independent health systems to collaborate in ways that improve quality, expand access to specialty expertise, reduce unnecessary costs, and keep care in the communities we proudly serve.

By coordinating clinical services, sharing expertise, and developing innovative care models, Astra Health seeks to:

  • Improve access to specialty and acute care throughout Kansas
  • Allow more patients to receive care in their local communities whenever appropriate
  • Lower the total cost of care through coordinated, high-value healthcare delivery
  • Develop innovative direct-to-employer healthcare solutions
  • Strengthen the long-term sustainability of independent community health systems

Astra Health is designed to strengthen collaboration across the region while preserving each member organization’s independence, local governance, and commitment to its communities as we collaborate on initiatives that benefit patients across the region.

Our communities expect excellent care close to home, and they want their hospital to remain strong and independent. Astra Health allows us to invest together in quality improvement, data resources, and innovation that will help our local hospitals continue to thrive as we deliver exceptional care for the people who depend on us.

As participants of Kansas Clinical Improvement Collaborative (KCIC), a clinically integrated network of health systems across Kansas, Astra Health will continue to explore opportunities in clinical integration, population health, employer partnerships, digital health, and coordinated specialty services as it builds a more connected and sustainable healthcare network for Kansas.

LMH Health has made extensive progress in building regional relationships. In February 2023, LMH entered a Strategic Clinical Relationship with the University of Kansas Health System (TUKHS) paving the way for clinical partnerships that increase patient access to specialty care in and around Douglas County. An agreement with Newman Regional Hospital and TUKHS followed in February 2025, continuing LMH’s commitment to providing collaborative orthopedic care through OrthoKansas, supporting the delivery of care in Emporia, and allowing for streamlined coordination for patients requiring care outside the community.

We are excited about this partnership and what it will mean for our communities, and we look forward to sharing more information in the months ahead.

With best regards,

Dr. Shelly Kortkamp
LMH Health President & CEO