If hospital administrators could have a say, they would get down on their knees and beg Kansas lawmakers to approve expansion of the Medicaid program.
If large employers such as Gates Corporation could have a vote, they would tally the “yes” column for larger numbers of their employees to be under the health insurance umbrella.
Also in favor of the expansion are the state’s chambers of commerce.
Why?
Because it makes good business sense to have more of the state’s poor receive health insurance.
But Kansas legislators are hedging, saying it only adds to the country’s deficit.
Well, it’s nice for them to be so concerned about the national budget, but what about our state’s? By saying “no thanks,” Kansas lawmakers are turning down $385 million a year in federal funds for the extra insurance. Those funds would allow an additional 200,000 low-income Kansans to receive health insurance.
It’s the poor who are a financial burden to hospitals, forced to write off millions of dollars a year in bad debt because of unpaid bills.
Manufacturers with more than 50 employees would love to see the Medicaid expansion because under the new Affordable Care Act, they will be required to offer insurance or face a penalty. If Uncle Sam picks up the tab, so much the better.
THE REAL losers if the program is not expanded will be Kansas taxpayers. We will continue to shoulder the costs of the poor and not get the benefit of a national healthcare program.
If Kansas doesn’t ask for its share it will be spread out among the other states participating in the expansion of Medicaid.
Up until 2016, it means $385 million a year. After that, states are to assume 10 percent of the costs.
Besides the significant savings to Kansas and Kansans, need we say it’s the right thing to do?
But of all the arguments, that seems to be the least compelling.
Write your state representative and senator today. Tell them to vote yes on expanding the Medicaid program. The legislature reconvenes Wednesday. There’s not a minute to waste.
— Susan Lynn
