Kansas House Republicans say they are taking meaningful steps to addressing healthcare access after the Appropriations Committee adopted certain recommendations from the Social Services Budget Committee this week.
The House Appropriations Committee has agreed to add almost $34 million to increase physician provider codes and another $45 million to bolster outpatient hospital rates.
76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington stresses this is not connected to Medicaid expansion, as Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has requested every year she has been in office. However, he says this plan addresses several major issues connected to health care.
Smith had floated the idea of a dedicated revenue stream to struggling rural hospitals immediately after the governor’s State of the State address in January, and he says this plan is exactly what he had in mind.
60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia is pleased with both aspects of the plan announced Thursday, but he says one key component is still missing.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins says the plan to increase “shockingly low” Medicaid reimbursement rates will increase access for those currently on Medicaid while offering better care at lower costs for patients and expanding the number of providers across Kansas.
