NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Garth Strand is running as a Democrat for Kansas House District 104 and he is supportive of Medicaid expansion in Kansas.
"I think Medicaid expansion should have been done years ago," Strand said. "It's allowed billions, I think the latest number I have heard is $5 to $6 billion leave the state, tax dollars, federal tax dollars that we've paid in that we can't get back. It needs to be done. There's a large number of state taxpayers who are without coverage for various reasons. They need a safety net. Medicaid expansion can do that."
Strand notes that quite a bit of care is done without payment here locally.
"Our own local hospital is a not-for-profit, so they do provide care to anyone who comes in their door. It's uncompensated care. Talking with the leadership team there, it's costing the hospital, every year, $5 to $6 million. Medicaid expansion would take care of that."
Kansas is one of just a dozen states where the ACA's expansion of Medicaid still has not been implemented as of 2022.
"Something like 70% of Kansans say this should be done," Strand said. "Why aren't we doing it, when 70% of our citizens want something, I think it should be done. Apparently the fear is that, well, it's going to wind up costing us money. My sense is, what the legislature does, the legislature can undo and if it turns out to not be a good program, it can be adjusted, it can be ended, but in the short run, we need to get it done."
Find out more about Strand's campaign at https://www.gowithgarth.com/.