ICYMI: Medicaid Expansion Would Increase Supports for Pregnant Moms, Kansas Families

• I’m a maternal-fetal medicine specialist working in the Kansas City metropolitan area. I work closely with expectant patients with pregnancy complications. I also help educate new parents about postpartum care — what they need to keep themselves and their little one healthy. 

• More than 10 years ago, [certain] clinics began no longer accepting uninsured patients, and we started seeing patients coming in later and later in pregnancy as they couldn’t afford multiple visits...This results in sicker pregnant people with more complications – exactly what we don’t want. 

• Kansas recently passed a bipartisan law to expand health care coverage for new moms up to 12 months post-delivery... We know the benefits of this new law will be lifesaving. Literally. Access to routine check-ups, breastfeeding support, mental health support and more will reduce maternal mortality and improve health outcomes for our most precious resource: our children. 

• With the closure of rural hospitals, patients must drive further for preventative and maternity care…these hospital closures will inevitably lead to fewer health care visits, especially when raising a family, balancing jobs and many other daily tasks…We need to make it as easy as possible to get patients the care they need. 

• The time is long past due for Kansas to expand Medicaid, once and for all. 

• Expansion…would also help lower health care costs for all Kansans… Why not expand Medicaid so we can drive down the costs of our families’ bills? All our families deserve a break in costs. 

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