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.

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