Kelly Blames House Speaker for Kansas Medicaid Expansion Failure

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, speaking at an Oct. 29 economic conference in Lawrence, called the Legislature's refusal to expand Medicaid the biggest disappointment of her nearly eight years in office. She said the state has forfeited over $8 billion in federal funds and linked the lack of expansion to rural hospital closures, blaming House Speaker Dan Hawkins for blocking a vote she believes would have passed. Kansas is one of 10 states that has not adopted Medicaid expansion, leaving an estimated 150,000 working adults without coverage options. Hawkins responded that expansion would impose new costs on Kansas taxpayers dependent on uncertain federal funding commitments.

LTSS · Finance