Gov. Laura Kelly launches council to guide Medicaid expansion debate

By Tim Carpenter | Sept. 30, 2019 Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly resumed Kansas’ spirited debate on Medicaid expansion by authorizing a large, bipartisan council Monday to serve as policy compass for legislators diving into the controversial issue during the 2020 session. She opened the inaugural meeting of the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion by reminding […]

Leave work requirements out of KanCare expansion plans

By Dana Bacon | Oct. 1, 2019 Though the legislative session doesn’t begin until January 13, we already know its tone will be set by a central question: “How best to cover more Kansans by expanding access to the KanCare program?” Lawmakers will likely be tempted to add some controversial and concerning ideas in their […]

Kansas Continues to Lag in Insurance Coverage

By Sheldon Weisgrau | Sept. 25, 2019 The Census Bureau’s annual report on health insurance is out, and the news isn’t good. Despite economic growth and low unemployment, the number of Americans without insurance rose by about 2 million in 2018, continuing an erosion in coverage that began the year before. Prior to that, both […]

How Political Maneuvering Derailed A Red State’s Path To Medicaid Expansion

By Lauren Weber | Sept. 6, 2019 TOPEKA, Kan. — This was supposed to be the year Medicaid expansion finally happened in Kansas. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, elected in November, had run on the issue. She triumphed in a state that had gone for Trump in 2016 by more than 20 percentage points and replaced […]

Hutchinson News: Gov. Laura Kelly directs council to explore Medicaid expansion options

By Tim Carpenter | Sept. 4, 2019 Gov. Laura Kelly pressed ahead with a central campaign theme Wednesday by directing a council to study the Medicaid expansion experience of three dozen other states and prepare a best-practices outline for use during the 2020 session of the Kansas Legislature. The 22-member council includes Rep. Jason Probst, […]

Kansas Health Institute 2019 Kansas Legislative Recap

During the 2019 legislative session more than 80 health-related bills were introduced, including more than a dozen child-welfare bills, but few progressed beyond the committee of origin. Even so, many important changes to health policy were enacted. This legislative recap examines some of the key health-related bills that were considered. It also includes a table […]

What’s the Best Way to Enhance Access to Behavioral Health Services? Expand KanCare

By Sheldon Weisgrau | Aug. 20, 2019 In response to recent episodes of gun violence, some Kansas legislators have called for an expansion of mental health services in the state. Although a link between mass shootings and mental illness has not been established, we agree that there is a dire need to enhance the behavioral […]

Despite Strong Economy, Uninsured Ranks Grew by 700,000

Even with a strong economy and robust job market, 700,000 people lost health insurance between 2016 and 2017, an Urban Institute study shows. The uninsured rate national increased from 10% in 2016 to 10.2% in 2017, the first increase since 2013 and the advent of the Affordable Care Act. Under the ACA, the uninsured rate […]