Kansas
Kansas House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins has Medicaid expansion all wrong. Here’s why. – Kansas Reflector
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion items from writers who share our purpose of widening the dialog about how public insurance policies have an effect on the day-to-day lives of individuals all through our state. Susan Osborne is a member of the state management crew of Girls for Kansas.
Kansas Home Majority Chief Dan Hawkins just lately wrote an opinion piece about Medicaid (Kancare) enlargement crammed with worry, deceptive statements and downright untruths. He cited few information, numbers or statistics. As a substitute, he relied on outrageous statements which have floated round unreliable web sites for years.
I’d wish to set the report straight.
Hawkins warns that disabled residents’ care could be put in jeopardy by Medicaid enlargement. He writes that by “including able-bodied adults to this system” it “ends in the identical sources being unfold extra thinly throughout an ever-growing inhabitants.”
That’s not true. The very fact is that new cash and new sources can be found to all presently on Medicaid and likewise to these newly certified after enlargement. The federal authorities presents the extra cash when the state agrees to enlargement. Thus far, Kansas has already misplaced greater than $5.5 billion {dollars} by not increasing Medicaid.
Worries that this system isn’t sustainable may be answered by taking a look at enlargement states.
Thus far, 38 states plus Washington, D.C., have already expanded this system, together with all of our neighboring states. Wyoming is about to be the thirty ninth this fall. Not one state has modified its thoughts.
Hawkins instructed that enlargement has failed in these states as a result of extra residents signed up than deliberate. Hawkins conflates dramatic will increase in Medicaid enrollment with failure. Actually, elevated enrollment proves success. The additional federal {dollars} Kansas will obtain are supposed for the elevated enrollment. Within the meantime, Kansans’ tax {dollars} are utilized by these states which have already expanded.
The Kansas financial system would expertise a big enhance by means of enlargement.
“A number of complete analyses of present enlargement states have discovered that Medicaid enlargement had a internet optimistic impression on state budgets,” writes the Robert Woods Johnson Basis.
In one other misstatement, Hawkins claims that hospitals, particularly in rural areas, are in danger due to enlargement. The very fact is that Kansas has the unlucky distinction of getting essentially the most hospitals vulnerable to closure in the USA, in keeping with the Alliance for a Wholesome Kansas. With enlargement, hospitals get Medicaid reimbursement somewhat than footing the payments themselves for uninsured sufferers.
Each rural and concrete communities would expertise financial growth with the enlargement of KanCare.
Hawkins maintains that able-bodied Kansans grow to be eligible underneath enlargement. He shames them for enrolling and means that they’re already eligible for low-cost insurance coverage or by means of their employment.
Hawkins fails to say that the majority those that are “able-bodied” are already working however due to their low wages they’re “caught within the hole,” making an excessive amount of to qualify for present Medicaid and too little to afford medical health insurance – without having entry to healthcare by means of employers.
A single mother of two who makes greater than $4 an hour full-time could be caught within the hole. Bear in mind, she’s working! These within the restaurant, development, and lodging industries are examples of this example. Others who would qualify embrace those that should look after a disabled individual or who’re youthful and disabled.
Hawkins misstates that Medicare-covered seniors and disabled residents will lose entry to well being care and find yourself on lengthy wait lists. He’s making an attempt to confuse Kansans by implying that Medicare and the present Medicaid are the identical factor. After all, that’s not true.
He additionally acknowledged that 22,000 have died on ready lists in enlargement states. Actually, this assertion has been utilized by Hawkins and unreliable web sites for years. It earned 4 Pinocchios from Washington Put up fact-checkers in 2018. The very fact is there are fewer ready traces in states with enlargement. Medicaid enlargement stays related to important reductions in all-cause mortality.
Hawkins additionally states that persons are ignored attributable to enrollment caps, however there may be no such factor.
In response to the Middle on Price range and Coverage Priorities: “States which have expanded Medicaid underneath the Reasonably priced Care Act (ACA) have dramatically lowered their uninsured charges. In the meantime, those that gained protection have grown more healthy and extra financially safe, whereas longstanding racial disparities in well being outcomes, protection, and entry to care have shrunk.”
Growth has produced internet financial savings for a lot of states. Moreover, enlargement is related to a greater than 4% discount in states’ spending on their conventional Medicaid packages.
What would Medicaid enlargement’s results be for households? Extra protection, improved maternal well being, and higher preventive care. Nearly all of all uninsured youngsters dwell in non-expansion states.
Medicaid Growth will not be a welfare program for the able-bodied. It’s a program to carry up our working neighbors who’re trapped in low-wage jobs and unable to afford medical health insurance.
Study the information. Eighty % of Kansans assist Medicaid enlargement, together with a majority of Democrats and Republicans, and rural and concrete residents. Analysis outcomes additionally point out that Kansans anticipate our Senators and Representatives to vote for Medicaid enlargement.
Earlier than making an attempt to scare Kansans once more, Hawkins ought to get his information straight.
By way of its opinion part, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who find themselves affected by public insurance policies or excluded from public debate. Discover data, together with tips on how to submit your individual commentary, right here.
Kansas
Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – The family of a man shot and killed by a Kansas City, Kan. police officer filed a lawsuit against the officer, the police chief and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.
According to the lawsuit, an officer shot 50-year-old John Anderton in the back five times as he ran away from an emergency scene in February 2023. Anderton died from his injuries.
The Wyandotte County District Attorney investigated the shooting and determined the officer was justified in shooting Anderton.
According to the DA’s investigation, Anderton failed to follow the officer’s orders and reached for a gun when the officer fired at him.
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Anderton’s brother disagrees according to the lawsuit filed Jan. 14.
The lawsuit claims the police officer violated Anderson’s civil rights when he used excessive force and shot him.
The shooting happened as crews responded to a call about two people overdosing in a house near N. 55th Street and Haskell Ave.
The lawsuit said Anderton tried helping his friends by performing CPR. He left after paramedics arrive. The lawsuit said Anderton left the house because he was concerned that staying would exacerbate his chronic COPD.
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The officer stopped Anderton as he left the house.
The lawsuit states the officer “suddenly demanded” Anderton to put his hands on top of his head. That’s when Anderton tried to run away. The lawsuit claims the officer fired a dozen shots at Anderton. Five of the bullets hit him, including two in the back and one in the back of the head.
The lawsuit claims Police Chief Karl Oakman and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County are responsible because they should know how the officers are trained to use force.
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Spokespeople for both the police department and Wyandotte County declined to comment due to pending litigation.
The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and demands more than $75,000.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Max Jones’ Effort For Kansas State Can Translate To Wins
Even with Kansas State’s loss to Texas Tech Tuesday night, there was still much the Wildcats could appreciate.
One was Max Jones’s level of play, as he finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. But amidst his solid performance, a ton of plays beyond the box score made the difference. He kept them afloat in the second half when Texas Tech looked like they were going to turn the game back into a blowout.
“I promise our fans that we’ll put dudes on the floor that are gonna give an effort that’s worthy of wearing a K-State uniform. And if they’re not gonna be gritty and tough like Max Jones and some of the other guys showed tonight, then they won’t be on that floor,” coach Jerome Tang said.
Jones has been one of Kansas State’s most consistent scorers, scoring close to his median every game. Despite the three-game losing streak, he’s put up double-digit performances while regularly getting to the free-throw line. Jones’ stability and aggressive play make it easier for Tang to know what he can provide nightly.
Nevertheless, Kansas State needs to start winning conference games. Jones says there’s “not a lot of pressure” to immediately win, but a fifth Big 12 loss will only fuel outside doubts.
“I’d just say we gotta keep getting better,” Jones said. “I feel like today we got a lot better, and a lot better in practice before this game. We gotta take one game at a time, and just take each game like it’s our last and just try to win.”
Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.
Kansas
Kansas influencer SB Mowing raises over $750K for elderly homeowner who faced fine from city for overgrown lawn
A Kansas influencer raised over $793,000 to save a disabled elderly woman who faced a hefty fine from her town for failing to trim her overgrown yard.
Spencer, a content creator known for his landscaping business SB Mowing, said he met homeowner Beth last summer when a town official familiar with his social media videos contacted him and asked if he could help fix her lawn.
He was warned that Beth, who uses a cane to move around her property, needed to trim the yard or pay $240 for the town, which was not revealed in the video, to cut it for her.
‘I’ve spent a month trying to get someone to come mow,” Beth said in a video uploaded on Jan. 10. “They won’t answer their phones.”
Beth revealed that the town officials had implemented a date for when she was required to have the yard cut before she faced the financial loss.
Spencer described the lawn that surrounded Beth’s small white house as unkept and was “getting crazy.”
“I can get that taken care of for ya,” Spencer assured her, offering his landscaping service at no cost.
“I can’t believe it that’s great,” Beth replied.
Spencer transformed her lawn by clearing grass from the driveway cracks, trimming the bushes, removing trees and mowing very tall grass.
“I cried on and off just listening to your machine,” Beth told Spencer after the big reveal.
Spencer added that he was happy to help Beth as she became emotional over the gesture.
“Your work makes me twinkle so I really appreciate you. I can’t tell you how much. No one’s been happy to help me,” she added.
On top of the lawn issues, Spencer then noticed the home needed improvements to accommodate Beth, who was “in desperate need of help.”
Spencer launched a GoFundMe when he noticed how Beth’s old stairs posed an issue for her to walk on and that the driveway cracks could cause her to fall.
The small business owner raised over a half million dollars within a day to help her “gain accessibility and comfort” on other parts of her property.
Funds raised will help address accessibility issues she faces including building a new ramp outside so it’s easier for her to get to her front door, a smooth driveway and a chair lift that will allow her to get up and down stairs for her laundry.
The money will also pay a lawn care company to maintain her yard for the “next few years” because Spencer lives too far away.
The elderly homeowner was stunned when she received the life-changing donation.
“I can’t even cry,” Beth said. “I can’t even think.”
“I never expected help ever, ever, ever. I always help people until I got down and out,” Beth added.
“We’re gonna be able to do a little bit more than just your driveway and your ramp here,” Spencer revealed.
Spencer is making sure all the money that was raised doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
“I am also working with an attorney to set up a trust for her to make sure that all of the funds are protected,” Spencer wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “I don’t want anybody trying to take advantage of her and I want to make sure that the funds are used properly.”
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