The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act passed the U.S. House on June 29.
The bill, which would allow Medicaid to expand in Kansas, was supported by U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist. Other provisions of the bill would help lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs and protect people with pre-existing conditions.
“Kansas has come close to expanding its Medicaid program in the past, but always fell short. I’ve long fought to help Kansas finally expand Medicaid and I was proud to have secured key measures in this bill to help our state cover the cost of expansion, meaning an estimated 150,000 Kansans would receive access to quality, affordable health care. We need to build on the progress of the Affordable Care Act, not tear it down in the middle of a global pandemic. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to vote on this essential piece of legislation right away,” Rep. Davids said.
“I applaud Representative Davids’ efforts to get health care for the people in our state who desperately need it. But at some point, Kansas Republican leadership needs to decide if clinging on to this punitive, bad faith argument is more important than helping the people they were elected to serve,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “We will introduce Medicaid expansion next session, and I hope Republican Leadership puts politics aside and works with me to bring this life-saving care and funds to Kansas.”
“I want to thank Congresswoman Davids for her leadership to protect and expand Americans’ access to Medicaid coverage. Rep. Davids helped lead efforts on key provisions in the Affordable Care Enhancement Act that would incentivize states, including Kansas, to expand their Medicaid programs. If adopted, these provisions would provide quality, affordable health coverage to millions of Americans including over 100,000 Kansans,” said Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Jr.