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For Immediate Release:
November 1, 2023
Contact:
Grace Hoge
[email protected]
ICYMI: Governor Kelly Discusses Public Safety During Wichita Medicaid Expansion Roundtable
KEY QUOTE: “State Senator Carolyn McGinn who represents Sedgwick and Harvey Counties says she and others have been pushing for [Medicaid expansion] but the conversations on it are being silenced. "If it's such a bad idea, why can't we have the debate? So let's bring all those things out so we can understand what the pros and cons of Medicaid expansion are.”
- Governor Laura Kelly visited Wichita Thursday afternoon for a roundtable discussion over expanding Medicaid with Sedgwick County community leaders. "The whole idea that we can't afford to do it is a myth. It really is we can't afford not to do it," said the Governor.
- At the table [Governor Kelly] was joined by local lawmakers, officers, and health care workers to learn how people would benefit from Medicaid being expanded. They all agreed it would be a positive for everyone.
- "Fifty-four percent of the patients that we care for in the emergency department and in our inpatient behavioral health center are either uninsured or covered by Medicaid," said Abbey Cotter with Ascension Via Christi.
- A flyer handed out at the discussion said if Medicaid is expanded then over 30,000 people who are currently uninsured in Sedgwick County will receive health care coverage.
- In addition to this, community leaders say the numbers they have looked at show expanding Medicaid would save the community millions of dollars because more people's medical expenses will be covered. "Rough estimates show, when we took a look at it, somewhere around 1.5 to 2 million," said Sheriff Jeff Easter when talking to the rest of the roundtable.
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