TOPEKA - Governor Laura Kelly announced on Monday that she has sent a letter to the Kansas Congressional Delegation, requesting they protect Kansans from the looming federal Medicaid cuts that threaten quality, affordable health care access for the most vulnerable Kansans. Under the latest plan proposed by Congress, Kansas’ Medicaid program could lose up to $1 billion in federal funding within the first year alone.

“Significant cuts to the Medicaid program will directly affect Kansans across the state, regardless of their political views. These cuts would be particularly detrimental to our rural hospitals and providers,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We must stand up against these changes to ensure the hundreds of thousands of Kansans covered under Medicaid can continue to receive quality, affordable care.” 

The state's Medicaid program covers more than 443,000 vulnerable Kansans, including low-income seniors, children, pregnant mothers, and individuals with disabilities. The suggested reductions in federal funding put these Kansans at risk of losing their health care coverage. Additionally, the 64% of Kansas rural hospitals already at risk of closing will be further financially strained under these cuts due to an increase in uncompensated care costs and lower reimbursement rates.

Kansas is one of ten states that has not expanded Medicaid, which has subjected the state’s hospitals and providers to high levels of charity care expenses for the uninsured. Governor Kelly has consistently introduced proposals to expand Medicaid every year of her administration, but due to the Legislature’s inaction on this issue, over $7 billion in federal funding has been left behind in Washington D.C., dollars that should have been injected into the state’s health care ecosystem and economy. Since Kansas is already operating with reduced resources and limited federal funding, billion-dollar cuts proposed at the federal level would further destabilize the state's health care system.

By restricting access to care, the reduction in federal funding will weaken Kansas’ health care workforce, jeopardize the health of Kansans, and worsen financial instability. Governor Kelly urges federal and state leaders to work together to stop these cuts and build upon the progress made thus far by continuing to invest in the state’s health care system.

Governor Kelly’s full letter to the Kansas Congressional Delegation can be found here.