During an appearance in Winfield, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said she is starting a statewide tour to rally support for an expansion of Medicaid.
The governor made a stop Wednesday afternoon at William Newton Hospital to announce her “Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy” initiative. She plans to travel across the state to talk about the benefits of Medicaid expansion.
The governor said when the Kansas Legislature reconvenes in January, she will propose Medicaid expansion. She said seven rural hospitals in the state have closed since states have had the option for expansion, and another 60 out of the remaining 104 hospitals are at risk of closing. William Newton Hospital CEO Brian Barta said it’s estimated that expansion will help over 150,000 Kansans. He said the continued failure by the legislature to support expansion undermines the physical, emotional and economic health for the state.
