Medicaid access could be expanded for 150,000 Americans
A new bill that could expand Medicaid access to 150,000 people has been introduced in Kansas.
Why It Matters
Medicaid is the largest federal government program providing medical and health-related services to low-income people across the country, and Kansas is one of only a handful of states that has not expanded coverage since the Affordable Care Act was passed 15 years ago.
What To Know
State Governor Laura Kelly has announced that the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans Act has now been introduced to both chambers of the state legislature.
The expansion would likely extend eligibility to people who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, although bill text is not currently available. Currently in Kansas, Medicaid is available only to those who earn up to 44 percent.
Newsweek has contacted Governor Kelly's office for clarification via the contact form on her website.
Kansas is one of only nine states that did not expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in 2010. According to HealthInsurance.org, the Sunflower State has an estimated 44,000 low-income residents who are stuck in a so-called "coverage gap" which means they earn too little to qualify for subsidized private health coverage, but are also ineligible for Medicaid due to the lack of ACA expansion.
According to a press release issued by Kelly's office on February 6, the passage of the bill would "create 23,000 new jobs, inject $1.2 billion in annual funding into Kansas' economy, and reduce health care costs for Kansans."
It also said a Medicaid expansion would address the state's health care workforce shortage all while "helping safeguard rural hospitals so they can remain open and well-staffed in order to continue serving Kansans across the state."
What People Are Saying
Governor Laura Kelly said: "The Healthcare Access for Working Kansans (HAWK) Act protects our rural hospitals, bolsters our health care workforce, and strengthens our economy — all while coming at no cost to Kansans. In fact, by waiting to expand Medicaid, we have wasted over $280 million and left $7.6 billion on the table in Washington D.C. I encourage the legislature to advance Medicaid expansion this session so we can bring Kansas taxpayer dollars back home to support our health care system."
Senator Pat Pettey, Kansas Senate District 6, who introduced the legislation to the Senate, said: "My fellow legislators should listen to Kansans who, time and time again, express that they want to see Medicaid expanded in our state. Kansans deserve quality, affordable health care, and by expanding Medicaid, we can increase this access to 150,000 additional working Kansans and lower health care costs for all."
What's Next
The bill is being reviewed by the House and Ways Committee in both the Kansas House and the Senate.