For the first time in four years, the Kansas Legislature will hold hearings on Governor Laura Kelly’s plan to expand Medicaid.
Hearings will take place Wednesday. A joint meeting of the Senate’s Ways and Means and Public Health and Welfare committees will be the first hearing at 10:30 am. The House Health and Human Services Committee will hear the governor’s proposal at 1:30 pm.
Governor Kelly has called for Medicaid expansion every year she has been in office, saying expansion will help up to 50,000 residents qualify for medical care while bringing in federal money to the state. Among other concerns, critics have said the federal government could change its reimbursement policies at any time, which would leave expansion states high and dry if money goes away.
This session, Medicaid expansion has been endorsed by over 100 Kansas hospital, clinic and mental health executives, including leaders of CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness, Newman Regional Health, Greenwood County Hospital and Morris County Hospital. It has also been endorsed by the city of Emporia and USD 417 Morris County.
House Republicans have floated a plan to help existing Medicaid patients, providers and rural hospitals without officially expanding Medicaid. Supporters say it addresses several major needs, in part by increasing provider rates and in part by adding funds to rural hospitals. Critics say it doesn’t get Medicaid coverage to thousands of residents who need care.
