Kansas
Kansas families deserve a better, healthier home on the range with Medicaid expansion – Kansas Reflector
There is a great divide between the voices of Kansans and the legislators who are shutting down their right to be heard.
Medicaid expansion is essential to enhance comprehensive health care and long-term care coverage to millions of low-income families across our nation. Kansas is one of only 10 remaining states that have not yet adopted Medicaid expansion. We are losing residents to surrounding states, all of which have expanded their Medicaid eligibility to help eliminate the existing coverage gap experienced by thousands of households.
Do we really need any more barriers preventing appropriate and timely care for health and wellness needs, including adult and pediatric specialists and mental health supports?
There are many benefits to a possible expansion of our state’s Medicaid system, including universal technology integration, drug price regulation, payment reforms, health care workforce optimization, and even fostering public and private partnerships. But above all else, imagine the gains we could make in preventive measures, value-based care and patient empowerment.
Medicaid is supported by the federal government to ensure that all states comply with services that are sufficient in amount and duration to reasonably achieve the health needs; available throughout the state; and serve certain mandatory populations such as poverty-level children and low-income pregnant women. I have worked in the field of public education in one realm or another for the past 13 years, and the number of families continuously affected by our state’s legislators’ lack of empathy is heartbreaking.
How many individuals must lose their job, lose a loved one to preventable disease or risk losing their self-worth before we make this a priority?
How many individuals must lose their job, lose a loved one to preventable disease or risk losing their self-worth before we make this a priority?
As a current graduate student pursuing my master’s in social work, I feel I have a brief opportunity, or rather an obligation, to create a little bit of noise in support of this much-needed policy reform within my home state. Social workers have a unique skill set that is valuable to reinforce and promote the redesign of current health systems to enhance a healthier population and reduce health inequities.
The phrase “where seldom is heard a discouraging word” in our state song gently reminds Kansans that that we are in this together to support our neighbors. We should stand together to do what is best for all of us. Do we not deserve access to prevention and education? Do we not deserve to be the best version of ourselves, to give back as capable and healthy citizens?
Nearly 150,000 Kansans would benefit from Medicaid expansion. Uninsured people are far less likely to get preventative screenings, resulting in an inability to treat major health conditions until they’ve progressed. Studies show that people who have been uninsured for significant periods die more often than their insured counterparts. Our communities deserve better, and our families deserve access. Many rural hospitals have closed their doors, and others are at risk of closing as a result of the current restrictions.
Just last year, 3 million children remained uninsured throughout the United States. Three million children without preventative care, who have seen their life expectancy shortened before they even turn 18.
In an effort to educate stakeholders, Gov. Laura Kelly has traveled to a variety of Kansas communities to educate people on the positive effects that Medicaid expansion could have on our local businesses, workers and to lower the cost of health care for all Kansas residents. Medicaid expansion will strengthen individuals, businesses, hospitals communities and our entire state.
Legislators should remember their ethical duty to provide equal opportunities for every single Kansan.
After all, health care is a right, not a privilege.
April Knudson serves as a school mental health liaison for a Kansas school district and is currently a graduate student at Fort Hays State University in the MSW program. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
:focal(0x0:6048x4024)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/200cc9993008801ce2e4270df7e25684/1120%20Trans%20Lege%20JM%2008.jpg "After Texas banned puberty blockers and hormones for trans kids, adults lost care, too")
For the first time since the 2022 AFC playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs will square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kansas City has a three-game winning streak over Pittsburgh, which includes the aforementioned contest in the Wild Card round of the postseason. This year, both teams have already clinched playoff berths but still have something to play for. The Chiefs, specifically, can get the best Christmas present of all by winning and locking up the one-seed and a first-round bye. A win makes them unreachable to the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers, on the other hand, are looking to maintain their division lead. They hold a conference tiebreaker over the surging Baltimore Ravens but are far from certain to keep that.
Here’s everything you need to know and how you can follow along with the Chiefs as they square off against the Steelers on Wednesday.
Game: Chiefs vs. Steelers
Location: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 25 at 12:00 p.m. CT
TV Channel: Netflix or KCTV local
Listen Live: WDAF (106.5 FM) Chiefs Radio Network or Tico Sports (Kansas City) for Spanish radio broadcast
Betting Line: Chiefs -3 (as of Wednesday morning)
This contest’s television broadcast team is highlighted by Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and both J.J. Watt and Nate Burleson (color) in the commentary booth. Melanie Collins and Stacey Dales will serve as the sideline reporters for Week 17’s matchup.
For updates throughout the game and after the action has concluded, including plenty of postgame content, keep it locked in right here at Kansas City Chiefs On SI and follow us on X @ChiefsOnSI, Bluesky @chiefsonsi.com and Facebook at Chiefs Nation for additional coverage, commentary and more.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – After three full days of searching on land and in area waters, the search for 80-year-old Gary Foster has been put on hold.
The Reno County Sheriff’s Office said Foster’s family decided to postpone the search until after the holidays, when efforts will resume as a recovery mission.
Over the last 72 hours, crews launched a large-scale effort involving over 200 people combing a five-mile radius around where he was last seen. The Kansas Highway Patrol searched the area via aircraft, and Saline County provided a water rescue team and sonar to scan nearby ponds.
The Silver Alert for Foster remains in effect.
Copyright 2024 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
Kansas
Kansas man charged after leading an Osceola, Mo. police officer on a high-speed chase on Highway 13
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mo. (KY3) – A Kansas City, Kansas man has been charged after leading Osceola police in a high-speed pursuit while under the influence.
According to court documents, 43-year-old Marvin Ruiz is charged with DWI and resisting arrest.
Court documents show that on December 21, around 5:30 p.m., an Osceola police officer noticed a Jeep driving south on Highway 13 at 110 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone. The officer then pulled out of the median and saw the Jeep go through it and start driving north on Highway 13.
The officer started chasing the suspect, at one point reaching speeds nearing 121 mph. He was then able to stop the car as it tried to turn back around and go south. The officer got out of his patrol car and drew his gun as he approached the Jeep.
According to court documents, the officer saw Ruiz behind the wheel and noticed his eyes were bloodshot and in a daze.
Moments later, Ruiz put the Jeep in reverse, almost causing several accidents before driving south in the northbound lanes. The officer followed Ruiz going about 70 mph and noticed Ruiz nearly hit other cars head-on.
The officer tried a PIT maneuver in the median to stop Ruiz, but it did not work. Ruiz then went south in the southbound lanes, and the chase speed reached near 110 mph. The officer says Ruiz then slammed on his brakes, causing him to hit the Jeep and spin out. The chase continued through the Lowry City city limits before Ruiz lost control and wrecked near a curve.
According to the officer, he got out of his patrol car and was able to arrest Ruiz. The officer tested Ruiz for alcohol, and his BAC came back to be 0.169.
According to the Osceola Police Department, the officer involved in the chase was Officer French and his K9 Officer Beck.
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol worked the crash since Ruiz hit the officer’s patrol car.
Ruiz appeared in court on December 23 and entered a not-guilty plea for the incident. He is being held in the St. Clair County Jail without bond. He is set to appear in court again on January 8, 2025.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Copyright 2024 KY3. All rights reserved.
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