During a recent town hall in Wichita, Governor Laura Kelly and Ed O’Malley, President and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF), discussed the potential benefits of Medicaid expansion in the state of Kansas. The event, titled “Accessible Health Care Coverage for Kansans,” was attended by business owners, community leaders, and audience members from the Wichita area.
Governor Kelly emphasized the importance of expanding Medicaid as part of her “Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy” tour. She highlighted how this expansion could support rural hospitals, strengthen the health care workforce, and benefit various sectors such as law enforcement, small businesses, and local taxpayers. Governor Kelly urged Senators to vote in favor of debating and voting on Medicaid expansion to empower communities across the state.
Expanding Medicaid would provide 150,000 residents with access to affordable health care coverage. This expansion is also projected to create 23,000 new jobs, help address the health care worker shortage, and inject over $1 billion annually into hospitals and health centers. Ed O’Malley stressed the importance of finding solutions that work for the people of the state and how Medicaid expansion could help reduce health care costs and increase coverage eligibility for Kansans.
The town hall took place as the Kansas Legislature returned to the Statehouse. While invitations were extended to legislative leaders like Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, they declined to participate. Members of the public were encouraged to reach out to their legislators in support of Medicaid expansion.
