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, […]

KanCare Expansion Rally and Press Conference Set for May 9

A rally and press conference is planned for May 9 at the Kansas Statehouse to kick off a statewide grassroots campaign in support of KanCare expansion. The campaign will help organize voters and leaders in communities across the state to help elected officials see that a large majority of their constituents support KanCare expansion. WHO: […]

Medicaid Expansion Creates Budget Savings and Revenue Gains: States that expand also have more job growth, lower health inflation, and fewer at-risk hospitals

In addition to big gains in health coverage, states that expand their Medicaid programs generate substantial budget savings and revenue gains that can be used to offset expansion costs and finance other state priorities. A recent analysis by Manatt Health, prepared for the State Health Reform Assistance Network, examined the budget impact of Medicaid expansion […]

New report shows KanCare expansion would improve behavioral health care access

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says approximately 34,000 uninsured people with a mental illness or substance use disorder have incomes that would qualify them for health coverage, if Kansas were to expand its Medicaid program, known as KanCare. With KanCare coverage, these Kansans would have been able to […]

Latest Poll Shows Strong, Growing Support for KanCare Expansion

A new poll shows that a growing majority of Kansans favor expanding KanCare to cover 150,000 low-income, working adults. The statewide poll found that 62 percent of Kansas voters supported expanding KanCare (the state’s privatized Medicaid program), to cover adults earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level — which is $16,394 for […]