Wichita Eagle Commentary: Expanding KanCare would strengthen rural health care, rural communities

By: David Jordan, president and CEO of United Methodist Health Ministry Fund | March 9, 2022 Kansas is a rural state with nearly one-third of the population living in rural communities. As Kansans we take pride in self-reliance and taking care of our own. Yet Kansans living in rural and frontier areas are more likely […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters for Public Health

By Sara Millburn If you hired a construction company to build a new house, how would you feel if the builders decided to “cut costs” by pouring a foundation for only 3 sides of the house? In the long run, would you actually be saving money? What would be the impact on the side of […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters for Health Clinics

By Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP As the state of Missouri has resolved to move toward Medicaid expansion, it will join a club that comprises roughly two-thirds of the United States that has opted for a similar direction for its citizens. Passing expansion in the state of Kansas will be a challenge but it’s […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters for Mental Health Care Providers

By Kyle Kessler The people of Kansas need Medicaid expansion to increase access to mental health care or substance use treatment. Not only for economic development; not only for delaying inevitable closures or consolidations of health care organizations like community mental health centers or hospitals; and not only for the purpose of becoming part of […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters for the Disability Community

By Ami Hyten I am scared for my community. “My” community is the disability community. When I turn on the news these days, my community is described as “vulnerable” or “infirm” or “ill.” My community makes up a large number of the growing COVID death count each day. I turn on the television and see […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters to the MS Community

By Laura Hoch Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and the body. Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from numbness and tingling to difficulty walking, depression, blindness and paralysis. MS is […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters for Educators

By Mark Farr People often ask us why the Kansas NEA, an organization dedicated to representing professional educators, supports Medicaid (KanCare) expansion. After all, don’t teachers have medical insurance already? Most teachers have access to affordable medical insurance, and their salaries would preclude them from accessing insurance through the expansion of KanCare. But by focusing […]

KanCare Expansion: Why It Matters for New Moms and Dads

By the Kansas Chapter of Postpartum Support International Board of Directors The Kansas Chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI-KS) is dedicated to improving awareness, support and treatment in Kansas for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Fifteen to 20 percent of mothers experience prenatal or postpartum depression, making this the most common complication of pregnancy and […]