It’s past time to expand Medicaid — for pregnant moms and everyone else in Kansas | Opinion

I’m a maternal-fetal medicine specialist working in the Kansas City metropolitan area. I work closely with expectant patients with pregnancy complications. I also help educate new parents about postpartum care — what they need to keep themselves and their little one healthy. There was a time when low- to middle-income pregnant women could receive care at a clinic staffed by resident physicians at various medical schools, if they made too much money to qualify for assistance but too little to afford private insurance. They could pay a reduced fee based on their income, and receive excellent, compassionate care.

But more than 10 years ago, those clinics began no longer accepting uninsured patients, and we started seeing patients coming in later and later in pregnancy as they couldn’t afford multiple visits. For lower income families, KanCare now covers pregnancy and delivery care, but for care not related to pregnancy, (asthma, heart disease, seizure disorder or other neurological problems, for instance) they are on their own. This results in sicker pregnant people with more complications — exactly what we don’t want.

Kansas recently passed a bipartisan law to expand health care coverage for new moms up to 12 months post-delivery. Now, as can happen frequently, those who experienced problems in pregnancy can get the continuing care they need to avoid long term complications from heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, for example. We know the benefits of this new law will be lifesaving. Literally. Access to routine check-ups, breastfeeding support, mental health support and more will reduce maternal mortality and improve health outcomes for our most precious resource: our children.

So why stop here? The time is long past due for Kansas to expand Medicaid, once and for all.

Why does this issue, which is all over the news these days, matter to all Kansans?

Medicaid expansion would make a specific population of hardworking Kansans eligible for health insurance. These people either “make too much” to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance. They are working folks in our hospitality industries, (bartenders and waiters, for instance) drivers, and construction workers. They deserve health care, and we need them to stay healthy and in the workforce.

Expansion is a practical solution, too. We are one of only 10 states left in the nation that have not expanded Medicaid. That means our federal tax dollars are going to neighboring states to keep their residents healthy — not Kansas families. So far, Kansas has lost more than $6 billion (with a b) because we have chosen not to expand Medicaid. How much more do we have to lose to say enough is enough?

Not only would expansion help boost the Kansas economy, but it would also help lower health care costs for all Kansans. At a time when we are all feeling the growing costs of everything from groceries to airfare to school lunches, health care is no exception. Why not expand Medicaid so we can drive down the cost of our families’ bills? All our families deserve a break in costs.

Let’s talk about our rural hospitals. A recent report found that more than 50% of rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing — 60 of 104. Earlier this month, Dickson County’s local Herington Hospital announced its closure after serving Kansans for more than 100 years. Ascension Via Christi recently announced it will be closing the doors of its emergency department in Fort Scott next month. This means many families in southeast Kansas will be driving much further for emergency care.

There are numerous variables involved in health care access and costs, but it is a fact that Medicaid expansion would help rural hospitals’ bottom lines. In expanded states, health care centers have higher revenue, greater operational capacity, more financial stability and more sites. They serve more patients, and are more likely to provide behavioral health and vision services. Researchers have found that hospitals in expansion states also provide more jobs for their respective communities.

With closure of rural hospitals, patients must drive further for preventative and maternity care. That’s if they have transportation available, and flexibility to take off more time from work, and child care if they need it. These hospital closures will inevitably lead to fewer health care visits, especially when raising a family, balancing jobs and many other daily tasks. Preventative care (which adds to quality of life as it prevents worsening of chronic illnesses) may drop off the priority list. We need to make it as easy as possible to get patients the care they need.

If you are still reading, thank you. The benefits of expanding Medicaid are clear. Let’s help all Kansans out by getting this job done.