Kansas politicians refusing to expand Medicaid send your tax dollars to other states | Opinion

It is time for a change. Kansas is facing a critical decision affecting the well-being of its citizens and its economy. Partisan politics in the Kansas Legislature must now yield to the political good sense and the will of the people it serves.

Kansas is one of only 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage to include nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government pays 90% of the costs for those who receive this coverage under expansion. Over the last decade, Kansas has forfeited nearly $7 billion in federal funding by refusing to expand Medicaid — roughly the same amount as the state’s entire budget for 2024.

Legislators in 40 other states have overcome political partisanship to do the right thing for their residents. This session of the Kansas Legislature provides yet another opportunity to right a wrong that has been perpetuated through legislative obstinance each session since 2014. Failure to pass Medicaid expansion this session would amount to virtual criminal neglect of our state’s economy.

Political partisanship in Kansas has distorted the original purpose of politics. The word “political” derives from the Greek “politikos,” which evolved into the political science of how people will live with, care for, distribute resources and treat one another other. The word “partisanship” means the opposite: prejudice toward a particular viewpoint, or bias. Political partisanship is contrary to working toward the general welfare of Kansans. It promotes the interests of the few over the interests of the many.

Legislative leaders in Kansas strain, posture and work overtime to conjure specious arguments about the supposed evils of expanding Medicaid. Each of those specious arguments has been repeatedly refuted by overwhelming evidence. Those leaders have become exasperated by the persistent refutation of their deflections, and have refused even to hold hearings on Medicaid expansion proposals in recent legislative sessions.

It is undeniable that it is far more cost-effective for our society to keep people healthy than to to shoulder the burden of treating them when their health deteriorates because of their lack of accessible primary care. When care needs become dire and there is no other recourse, local hospital emergency rooms become the only available resource.

Fortunately, care is always provided on an emergent basis regardless of the individual’s ability to pay. And thankfully, we as a society have not yet decided that it is appropriate just to send away those very sick individuals without treatment. Yet somehow the expense for that care must be satisfied.

Kansas has already foregone nearly $7 billion of tax dollars paid by Kansans to the federal government. It’s no surprise that Kansas has the highest percentage of rural hospitals at risk of closure in the nation. And when those hospitals are forced to reduce service or close, it’s the community that suffers — all so some politician can claim he opposes “Obamacare” and remain true to his partisan political position, rather than what is true to the best interests of Kansans.

The Kansas Legislature should get smart about how to manage the burden of health care costs effectively. The smart way is to provide coverage for primary care, which would promote the health and general well-being of all residents of the state. A healthy workforce makes for a productive and healthy economy. The smart way to assure a healthy workforce is to provide it access to primary and preventive health care.

Expanding Medicaid is not just a moral imperative. It is a sound economic decision that Kansas cannot afford to ignore.