Kansas governor says state faces hospital closures and sicker residents unless it expands Medicaid

William Newton Hospital serves south-central Kansas
patients. (William Newton Hospital photo)

With rural hospitals and clinics closing at alarming rates, many states are faced with rural populations that cannot access needed medical care. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is taking the issue on and "dedicated this year's fall to traveling around her state and talking with constituents and community leaders about expanding Medicaid," reports Liz Carey of The Daily Yonder. "In a state where 60 rural hospitals are at risk of closing, forcing the legislature to expand Medicaid would be a lifeline, she told Carey. Her new campaign, 'Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy,' aims to help residents understand what Medicaid expansion could mean for rural hospitals, rural residents, and the state's economy."

"In 2013, the Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid coverage to most adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, or about $41,400 a year for a family of four. To date, nine states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, and Wyoming – have not expanded Medicaid," Carey explains. "North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper signed legislation into law that directed the state to expand Medicaid, but the implementation of that expansion has been stalled awaiting legislative action."

Numerous studies have shown that states without Medicaid expansion have rural populations with poorer health outcomes when compared to states that adopted the broader coverage. "In 2020, a look by Kaiser Family Foundation at more than 400 studies done since 2013 found that states that did expand Medicaid saw improvements in healthcare access, financial security, and health outcomes among other things," Carey reports. She told Carey: "We can only judge the impact of not expanding Medicaid by looking at the states around us that have. It's clear that Kansas has sicker populations and populations with more mental health issues."

In an event speech, Brian Barta, CEO of William Newton Hospital in Winfield, Kansas, (pop.1,726), said, "'It is estimated that Medicaid expansion will help over 150,000 Kansans and continued failure by the state legislature to support Medicaid expansion undermines the physical, emotional, and economic health for all of Kansas,'" Carey writes. "The closure of a rural hospital impacts more than just rural residents, though, Kelly said. Closed rural hospitals mean communities lose much-needed jobs and tax revenue."

Carey adds, "Kelly has noted that expanding Medicaid is her number one priority for the 2024 legislative session. While some other governors have taken action through executive order, Kelly said her hands are tied. Under the previous administration, legislation was passed that required any Medicaid expansion could only be done by the legislature. So far, she's tried five times to get that kind of legislation passed. . . . And while it's not the first time she's fought this fight, this time, she said, she's taking it to the voters."