Kansas Health Institute: In Kansas’ richest county, Medicaid expansion’s absence still felt

Kansas Health Institute: Health officials say Johnson County losing revenue, benefits due to coverage gap. Tim DeWeese highlighted Johnson County’s neediest residents Monday while briefing an audience about what the county is losing because Kansas policymakers have declined to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. DeWeese, executive director of the county’s mental health agency, […]

Local health officials, residents raise voices for KanCare expansion

Local health officials expressed frustration Wednesday evening at state leaders’ refusal to expand KanCare. They held an open forum at the First Congregational Church in Topeka to explain why additional money is needed to provide health care for those who can’t afford it. According to the group Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, 150,000 Kansans live […]

Kansas Health Institute: KanCare Expansion Group Launches Campaign to Educate Voters

Supporters of Medicaid expansion are kicking off a campaign to mobilize Kansas voters on the issue. Supporters of Medicaid expansion are kicking off a campaign to mobilize Kansas voters on the issue. Federal tax rules prohibit the nonprofit Alliance for a Healthy Kansas from engaging in direct political activity, so the group is mounting a […]

The Wichita Eagle: Kansas hospitals are hurting, at risk

Yesterday Rhonda Holman of the Eagle Editorial Board wrote an excellent opinion piece that shares our concerns with the Governor and Legislature’s failure to act to close the coverage gap. Those standing firm against expanding Medicaid in Kansas have their reasons, however politically contrived. But, as predicted, their inaction is harming the health care industry, […]

Health Reform Resource Project: Expansion is how to fix KanCare

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) recently held a series of informational forums to gather input on the renewal of the KanCare program. Testimony from stakeholders was not accepted, but Sheldon Weisgrau of the Health Reform Resource Project prepared a written statement. Weisgrau […]

Community Leaders Launch Grassroots Campaign Urging Legislature to Expand KanCare

More than 150 community leaders from across Kansas came together at the Statehouse on May 9th to launch a campaign to urge Gov. Sam Brownback and legislators to expand KanCare, the state’s health coverage program for vulnerable Kansans. Watch the full video: Among them were dozens of Kansas leaders representing businesses, rural hospitals, safety net […]

Community Leaders Launch Grassroots Campaign Urging Legislature to Expand KanCare

TOPEKA—Community leaders from across Kansas came together at the Statehouse today to launch a campaign to urge Gov. Sam Brownback and legislators to expand KanCare, the state’s health coverage program for vulnerable Kansans. Among them were dozens of Kansas leaders representing businesses, rural hospitals, safety net health care providers, and faith communities. Father Robert Schremmer, […]

Medicaid Expansion Enhances Financial Well-Being: Unpaid Bills and Debt Sent to Collection Agencies Decline in Expansion States

The perceived value of health coverage is often tied to its connection to keeping people healthy. Health insurance, however, like other forms of insurance, is a financial product. Its primary goal is to protect the holder against financial risk. A recent study shows that Medicaid expansion does just that – reducing unpaid bills, enhancing credit, […]