ICYMI: Medicaid Expansion Would Boost
Kansas’ Well-Being 

Medicaid expansion shouldn’t be political. It can boost every Kansan’s well-being
Pam Shernuk | Special to The Kansas City Star
March 21, 2024

• [Medicaid expansion] isn’t just about policies and budgets — it’s about the working families across the state, the farmers in western Kansas, our rural hospitals and all the communities that make Kansas the beating heart of the nation.

• Recent polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of our fellow Kansans support Medicaid expansion. It’s a reflection of the collective will to ensure that our state prioritizes the health and well-being of its residents.

• A glaring issue that underscores the urgency of Medicaid expansion is the approximately 150,000 Kansans who fall into the health care gap.... About 75% of these folks are working Kansans who find themselves caught in a precarious situation, facing the daunting choice between basic health care and financial stability.

• By providing coverage to more Kansans, we can proactively address health issues before they escalate. This would result in a healthier and more productive workforce, benefiting not only individuals, but the entire community.

• Currently, hospitals and health care providers bear the brunt of uncompensated care costs when uninsured individuals seek medical treatment. Medicaid expansion would significantly reduce these costs by providing coverage for a broader segment of the population. This, in turn, helps stabilize the financial health of health care institutions, ensuring they can continue to provide essential services to their communities.

• Contrary to common misconceptions, Medicaid expansion is not just a health care policy — it’s also an economic stimulus. By passing Medicaid expansion, Kansas would experience an economic boost, creating jobs and fostering growth in related industries.