Wichita Eagle: Kelly, Denning reach deal to expand Medicaid in Kansas. But lawmakers must still vote.

By Jonathan Shorman | Jan. 9, 2020 When Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning walked into the Kansas Capitol rotunda Thursday to announce an agreement on Medicaid expansion, the rare sight of the sometimes-rivals together capped roughly three months of negotiations that may pave the way for more than 100,000 Kansans to […]

KCUR: Kansas Paves Medicaid Expansion Path After Governor And Top Republican Break Partisan Logjam

By Jim McLean | Jan. 9, 2020 TOPEKA, Kansas — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and a key Republican lawmaker said Thursday they’ve crafted a deal to make roughly 130,000 more Kansans eligible for Medicaid. In a joint Statehouse news conference, Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning revealed their compromise to expand the government-run health […]

Topeka Capital Journal: Gov. Laura Kelly, Sen. Jim Denning announce Medicaid expansion deal

By Tim Carpenter and Sherman Smith | Jan. 9, 2020 Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning outlined Thursday a bipartisan compromise for Medicaid expansion that was the product of 60 days of behind-the-scenes negotiation, ending a prolonged stalemate as lawmakers prepare to return next week for the start of the 2020 legislative […]

Topeka Capital Journal: Kansas may be at tipping point in campaign for Medicaid expansion

By Tim Carpenter | Jan. 8, 2020 OLATHE — Carolyn Thomas chose not to seek emergency care for a serious hip injury to avoid the burden of a staggering medical bill. Her inability to walk eventually cost her a job with access to health insurance benefits, dropping the caregiver of her deceased son’s four children […]

KSNT: Medicaid Expansion could have big impact for Native Americans in Kansas

By Korinne Griffith | Jan. 6, 2020 TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — It is estimated that 150,000 Kansans will be newly eligible for Medicaid, if Medicaid Expansion is implemented. A new report from the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas shows members of Native American tribes in the state would especially benefit from expansion. There are four […]

Kansas Should Pursue a Simple Medicaid Expansion

By Sheldon Weisgrau | Jan. 2, 2020 Recently, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear rescinded the requirement that Medicaid beneficiaries document their work hours with the state in order to receive health coverage. In so doing, Beshear joined a number of other governors and states that have rolled back work requirements and other burdensome Medicaid provisions. These […]

Letter to the editor: Expand Medicaid

By Peter Luckey | Dec. 20, 2019 “I finished my week of chemotherapy,” Julio said, brushing his long gray locks out of his worn face and gentle eyes. “Yes, I have leukemia” Lately, I have been talking to guests at the Lawrence Community Shelter. While I was visiting with Julio, people kept coming through the […]

Lawrence Journal World: New reports show Kansas’ health ranking is plummeting

By Lauren Fox | Dec. 13, 2019 Two recently released reports have some Kansas policymakers on edge about the health of Kansans and adamant that expanding Medicaid coverage will help. One report showed that, since 1990, Kansas’ health ranking has fallen more than that of any other state. The other showed that, in a two-year […]