In a significant move towards transforming healthcare accessibility, the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) recently presented its analysis of Governor Laura Kelly’s proposal to expand Medicaid. The forecast indicates that approximately 152,000 Kansans could enroll in the first year, all without incurring additional costs for the state government.
Governor Kelly, a Democrat, has prioritized the passage of Medicaid expansion this legislative year, building on her statewide campaign advocating for the policy in the previous fall. Despite her efforts, Republican leadership in the Legislature has consistently opposed the policy, blocking hearings on Medicaid expansion for the past four years.
New Bill To Benefit More Medicaid Users in One State
KHI, a Topeka-based nonpartisan research organization, shared these preliminary estimates during an insightful online video briefing, with plans to release a comprehensive report later this month. Kari Bruffett, the President and CEO of KHI, emphasized the organization’s commitment to fostering understanding by providing a common set of facts and figures for the ongoing discussion surrounding Medicaid expansion.
Acknowledging the evolving discourse on Medicaid expansion over the last decade, Bruffett stated, “There are different questions that are being raised, and we try to help address those.” Kansas remains one of the ten states that have yet to expand Medicaid since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. The state’s existing Medicaid program, KanCare, caters to low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, with eligibility currently set for those earning less than 38% of the federal poverty level.
Under the ACA, the federal government proposes covering 90% of the Medicaid service costs if states expand eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty rate. Governor Kelly’s proposal includes a work requirement, with exemptions for full-time students, veterans, caregivers, individuals with partial disabilities, and former foster children. Additionally, her plan introduces a new surcharge for hospitals.
Over 151,000 Kansans To Be Granted Medicare Accessibility
KHI’s analysis foresees a shift in income eligibility, resulting in 151,898 people enrolling in KanCare, comprising 106,450 adults and 45,448 children. Notably, this figure encompasses 68,236 adults and 16,377 children who are presently uninsured. The analysis also reveals that approximately 68.9% of the adults are already employed at least part-time. While the impact of Kelly’s work requirement on the remaining 31.1% is not fully clear, KHI indicates that 19.1% of the unemployed adults have a disability, 16.1% are students, and 3.8% are veterans.
Crucially, KHI calculates that the state’s costs for expanding Medicaid over the initial eight years would be entirely offset. This is primarily attributed to a $509 million incentive from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Additional savings are expected through increased federal contributions for existing services and the implementation of the new hospital surcharge.
Support for Medicaid expansion is evident in recent findings from the Kansas Sunflower Foundation, which conducted surveys in November. The results reveal widespread support, with 68% of Kansas voters, including 51% of Republicans, and 83% of small business owners endorsing Medicaid expansion.
Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and former president of Kansas Farm Bureau, emphasized the significance of expanding Medicaid as an investment in community well-being. Baccus stated, “A community that can offer a total health care package has an advantage in maintaining a viable town.”
The Sunflower Foundation, dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of all Kansans, conducted the surveys in collaboration with Public Opinion Strategies. The polls involved 500 voters online, with a 5% margin of error, and 107 business owners with fewer than 500 employees, conducted via phone and online, with a 10% margin of error.