For Immediate Release:
February 15, 2023
Contact:
Cassie Nichols
[email protected]
Governor Kelly Announces Introduction of
Medicaid Expansion Legislation:
Here's What They’re Saying
TOPEKA – Last week, Governor Kelly announced that her bills to provide affordable health care access for low-wage, hard-working Kansans were introduced. With Medicaid expansion -- also known as KanCare expansion -- thousands of Kansans will gain access to health care services they are already paying for through federal taxes.
SB 225 was introduced in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and has been referred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. HB 2415 was introduced in the House Committee on Appropriations and has been referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
What they’re saying:
"Healthy Kansas kids and families are critical to our state's future. Thousands of Kansas kids remain uninsured, and when other states have expanded Medicaid and parents enroll in coverage, they are more likely to enroll their kids in coverage too. Expanding KanCare provides an insurance option to parents in the coverage gap -- making too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to access insurance subsidies or afford coverage on their own. And we must ensure moms-to-be have continued access to affordable health care coverage before, during, and after pregnancy. A state full of healthy families will ensure communities thrive for years. We can start to get there by expanding KanCare.
- John Wilson, Kansas Action for Children
“We have the opportunity to achieve a Kansas health care triple aim: better health care for 150,000 Kansans, better payment opportunities for Kansas physicians, and better payments for our state’s health care systems. What are we waiting for; let’s do what’s right for Kansas by expanding KanCare.
- Tarah Remington Brown, Kansas Academy of Family Physicians
“Access to affordable health coverage is long overdue in Kansas, and ACS CAN calls on elected officials to work together to expand KanCare. Access to affordable health insurance is not a partisan issue. Eight-in-ten voters agree that everyone in Kansas, regardless of income, race, gender, or immigration status, should be able to get affordable health care. We are committed to working with the governor and the legislature to make that happen.”
- American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network
“It was 2020 when caregiver, heart mom, and low-wage working Kansan, Melissa Dodge, testified in support of Medicaid Expansion. There is now a new group of legislators who deserve the opportunity to hear her story and the stories of the other 150,000 Kansans that would gain coverage. KanCare expansion would give Melissa access to necessary physical and mental health care, keeping her working and caring for her kids’ complex needs. KanCare Expansion is necessary to help Melissa and other uninsured Kansans impacted by cardiovascular disease and stroke.”
- American Heart Association
“The American Lung Association believes everyone should have quality and affordable healthcare coverage. Expanding KanCare eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level (less than $31,781 per year for a family of three) would cover 150,000 individuals in Kansas. The American Lung Association in Kansas and Greater Kansas City strongly supports legislation to expand KanCare in Kansas.”
- American Lung Association
“Expanding Medicaid isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. That’s why every state bordering Kansas already had the sense to do it. The cost of maintaining the status quo is too high and will result in expensive healthcare, weaker businesses, shuttered clinics, and lost lives – unless we act now. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is grateful to Governor Kelly and KanCare expansion's legislative champions for supporting this proposal and urges other lawmakers to do the same.”
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
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