Emporia was one of several stops for buses that transported residents to Topeka for a rally in support of KanCare Expansion at the statehouse Wednesday.
Among those who caught the bus from Emporia was Winfield resident Charles McKinzie who says he is an avid supporter of expansion for two key reasons.
Statistics from the American Cancer Society published last October showed an overwhelming majority of Kansans, 87 percent to be exact, supported the expansion of Medicaid. McKinzie says the level of support shown by Kansasans should make the issue very simple for lawmakers.
McKinzie believes those opposed to the matter are only so for “purely political reasons” saying the opposition do not want to debate the matter out of fear of having a “stain on their records.”
Thus far, Medicaid expansion has been passed in 39 states, 32 of which approved traditional expansion with seven approving expansion through section 1115 of the Social Security Act. This gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the power to approve “experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects that are found by the Secretary to be likely to assist in promoting the objectives of the Medicaid program.”
Kansas is one of just 11 states yet to pass any form of Medicaid expansion along with Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Wyoming and Wisconsin.
McKinzie tells KVOE News it is his belief a lack of expansion is having and will continue to have a significant impact on the state population as many residents are choosing to relocate to other states where expansion has been passed in some form. Fellow supporter and Winfield resident Larry Hahn agrees and believes those impacts will have negative ramifications for medical providers.
He tells KVOE News several hospitals in and around Cowley County are already feeling these effects.
According to Healthinsurance.org, Kansas has an estimated 45,000 “low-income residents” who are stuck in the so-called “coverage gap” as they earn too little to qualify for subsidized private health coverage.
Local lawmakers have been split in terms of their stance on the matter with 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine amd 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber, both of Emporia, having noted their support in recent years while 76th District Representative Eric Smith has stated his opposition.
Despite their stances on the matter, all have stated they believe expansion is unlikely anytime in the near future.
For a link to the American Cancer Society’s study CLICK HERE.
To view the report published by Healthinsurance.org CLICK HERE.
