No Mercy: How A Kansas Town Is Grappling With Its Hospital’s Closure

By Sarah Jane Tribble | May 14, 2019 A slight drizzle had begun in the gray December sky outside Community Christian Church as Reta Baker, president of the local hospital, stepped through the doors to join a weekly morning coffee organized by the Fort Scott, Kan., chamber of commerce. The town manager was there, along […]

KCUR: Kansas Lawmakers Had A Deal To Expand Medicaid Next Year, Until They Didn’t

By Jim McLean | May 13, 2019 A deal to clear the way for Medicaid expansion next year that some Kansas lawmakers thought they had brokered in the waning hours of their just-finished legislative session appears to be unraveling. Instead, the conservative leaders and moderate rank-and-file Republicans find themselves splitting in an intra-party fight. Rep. […]

Critical Condition: Stories of Health in the Heartland

This short film, created by award-winning filmmaker Ky Dickens, features community members and health professionals from across Kansas sharing their challenges and triumphs as they strive to take care of themselves, their families, and their communities.

Wichita Eagle: Medicaid expansion won’t come to Kansas this year after last-ditch effort fails

By Jonathan Shorman | May 4, 2019 Medicaid expansion won’t happen in Kansas this year, leaving lawmakers to develop a new plan for 2020 that some Republicans hope will be more conservative. The Legislature adjourned early Sunday without approving an expansion plan backed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. That marked a defeat for Kelly, who […]

Topeka Capital Journal: House Republicans drop effort to force Medicaid expansion vote this year

By Sherman Smith | May 5, 2019 A contingent of House Republicans abandoned plans Saturday to force a vote on Medicaid expansion, choosing instead to adopt a revised state spending plan and clear a path to end the session. Moderate Republicans had joined with Democrats in the House to reject two rounds of budget proposals […]

Kansas City Medical Society Endorses Medicaid Expansion in Kansas and Missouri

The physicians of the Kansas City Medical Society have identified access to health care as their number one priority of 2019 and are advocating for Medicaid expansion in Kansas and Missouri during the 2020 legislative sessions. On behalf of the 3,400 physician members of KCMS, we call on our legislators to support Medicaid expansion in […]

Topeka Capital Journal: Premiums would block 27K from Medicaid expansion, add $2.9M in revenue

By Sherman Smith | May 2, 2019 Monthly premiums attached to health care coverage provided through Medicaid expansion would have little financial benefit for the state of Kansas and would eliminate 27,000 low-income adults from the program, according to the Kansas Health Institute. The medical research nonprofit studied potential impact of $25 monthly fees that […]

KCUR: Kansas Medicaid Expansion Fails To Get A Vote, But Supporters Threaten Budget To Force One

By Jim McLean | May 1, 2019 Supporters of expanding Medicaid in Kansas proved Wednesday they’ve got the votes in the Legislature — if they can get a vote. But they lacked enough lawmakers on their side to bypass Republican leadership and force that vote. At stake is whether the state would spend about $50 […]