TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – A vote on expanding Medicaid in the state of Kansas is nearly here. On Wednesday, the Senate will hold a vote to get the topic to the floor.
150,000 Kansans could be impacted if Medicaid was expanded, and millions of dollars could come to Kansas hospitals.
But some in the legislature say now isn’t the time. Republican leadership in both chambers have tried to stop it from passing. Now it comes down to how 40 senators vote on Wednesday.
“I think there’s a lot of studying that needs to go on. Sometimes when you do something fast, that’s what you get is something fast and you have to correct it,” said Winfield Senator Larry Alley, who is against voting to expand.
Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers has been touring rural hospitals across the state. He said the message is clear.
“Medicaid expansion really can’t wait for another year, it simply costs Kansas too much. Too much money is lost and too many lives are lost,” said Rogers.
The state’s Medicaid system, KanCare, currently takes care of the most needy Kansans. Expanding it would put the people that make too much to qualify for it now, but too little to get quality insurance also on the system.
“It’s time for our legislature to listen to the people, so on behalf of rural Kansas, I’m asking senate leaders to show compassion for their constituents,” said Rogers.
Currently the governor has 14 million dollars in her 2020 budget proposal and 16 million dollars for the following year.
Alley said he believes expansion could cost much more.
“What’s it really going cost, two, how are we going to administrate it, and three, how many people will actually sign up,” said Alley.
The Senate gavels in at 10 o’clock Wednesday morning and just before that, there’s a Medicaid expansion rally at 9:30 in the capitol.
To guarantee a vote on expansion, 27 senators need to vote in favor of it.