TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A modified version of Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys plan for expanding Medicaid in Kansas has cleared the House with bipartisan support.
Rep. Kent Thompson, R-LaHarpe, voted in favor of the measure. Rep. Kenneth Collins, R-Mulberry, voted against expansion.
The Houses 69-54 vote Thursday sends an expansion bill to the Senate. Its future there is uncertain.
Republican legislative leaders oppose Medicaid expansion. They argue that it will be expensive for the state despite the federal governments promise to cover 90 percent of the cost of Medicaid health coverage for up to 150,000 additional Kansas residents.
But 28 of the Houses 84 Republicans broke with their leaders and joined the chambers 41 Democrats in voting yes.
Supporters believe the bill will help struggling families and financially strapped rural hospitals. They added a provision ending the expansion within a year if the federal government breaks its funding promise.
