By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Democrat candidate for Kansas House District 114, Jeff Stroberg is a proponent of Medicaid Expansion in Kansas.
"Medicaid expansion is the most urgent thing we need to do for the state of Kansas," Stroberg said. "I'm running primarily from an economic perspective. When we have $4.3 billion leave the state, that has the opportunity to provide a significant amount of economic activities."
The district Stroberg is running in includes Kingman and as previously noted by State Senate candidate Shanna Henry, the hospital there has already had to make adjustments to stay open.
"Kingman actually passed a sales tax increase, because the citizens of Kingman knew how important that hospital was for their community. If we lose these rural hospitals, of which 30 are at risk, we have a risk of losing the businesses in those communities."
Stroberg said the amount of uncompensated care at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is also of concern.
"They are currently not getting reimbursed for lots of expenses," Stroberg said. "In fact, Ken Johnson at the regional hospital told me recently, it's up to $18 million only here."
Stroberg is running against Republican Michael Murphy in November for the seat that had been held by Jack Thimesch, who decided not to run for a fifth term.