By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — John Wilson, President of Kansas Action for Children, said Tuesday his organization continues to support the idea of Medicaid expansion in Kansas.
"For the good of Kansas children and their families, Medicaid expansion is absolutely the right thing to do," Wilson said.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wants to pay for it by allowing medical marijuana in the state. KAC does not take a position on that part of the proposal.
"Research has shown that expanding Medicaid, meaning providing health insurance to more people, benefits babies, children, adults and their communities," Wilson said. "We know that when adults are covered, they're more likely to enroll their kids in insurance programs and they're more likely to participate regularly in doctors' checkups."
Children who fall under the income guidelines are already covered by Medicaid. Expansion is designed to include more adults.
"We know that families are starting to look different now," Wilson said. "We have multigenerational households and we have adults in kids lives who aren't necessarily their parents who are playing important roles in their development. It's really critical that those people have health insurance."
It remains to be seen if Gov. Kelly's proposal or anything like it gets any traction in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
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