Kansas Republicans have snubbed an important deadline for Governor Laura Kelly. Kelly called on lawmakers to hold a hearing on her Medicaid Expansion Bill by “Kansas Day”. However, both of her bills in the House and Senate are sitting in committee, and it may stay that way for a while. Chair of the House Health Committee, Brenda Landwehr, says that they don’t plan on taking up the house bill for a hearing until after “Turnaround” day, adding that they set the schedule, not the Governor.
Turnaround day is February 23. It’s the last day to consider non-exempt bills in the House of origin. The bill was introduced in the House. It expands Medicaid for 150,000 Kansans and it includes a work requirement for people with coverage. Kansas is one of only 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid. This is the fifth year in a row Governo Kelly has introduced a Medicaid bill to the Legislature, with no success so far.
