Medicaid expansion rejected by Kansas Republicans on House health committee

A day after holding the first public hearings on Medicaid expansion in four years, Kansas Republican lawmakers rejected the bill pushed by Democrats.

In its last scheduled meeting of the legislative session, the House health committee on Thursday voted against sending House Bill 2556 to the House floor.

Susan Ruiz, D-Shawnee, made the motion to send the bill out of committee without a formal recommendation so that the entire House could have an opportunity to debate and vote on the bill.

After an initial voice vote, Democrats asked for a show of hands. Of the 17 members of the committee, only the five Democrats raise their hands in support. Landwehr didn't make the 12 Republicans raise their hands to show their opposition, despite an objection from a Democrat.

"That concludes our business," said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita and the committee chair. "As of right now, we have no more meetings. This was our last meeting."

Governor calls vote 'disappointing'

While the move does not officially kill Medicaid expansion legislation, the other routes for supporters would be more politically difficult.

Gov. Laura Kelly, who has made Medicaid expansion her top priority this session, said in a statement that it was "disappointing" that the committee "has chosen to disregard the 450 testimonies it received."

"There are still multiple avenues the Kansas Legislature can and should pursue to expand Medicaid this year," Kelly said. "It is clear that Kansans resoundingly support expanding Medicaid and have growing concerns over legislative inaction. I urge Kansans to continue making their voices heard so we can get this bill to both the House and Senate floors for a debate and vote."

Public opinion polling has shown the vast majority of Kansans support Medicaid expansion. The latest poll, conducted in February by research firm Perry Undem and released by the Kansas Common Sense Fund on Tuesday, put the public support at 73%.

"For years, the vast majority of Kansans have supported Medicaid expansion because it would help strengthen our rural hospitals and lower healthcare costs for all of us," said Lauren Fitzgerald, a senior adviser at the Kansas Coalition for Common Sense. "It's disappointing that a select few lawmakers refuse to allow a full debate and vote. It's no wonder almost 80% of Kansans think these politicians are out of touch."

Republicans object to Medicaid expansion

Rep. David Buehler, R-Lansing, doubted the promised benefits and believed the costs were understated. He expressing concern that it would be harmful to the economy and others who need care, particularly people waiting for services on the intellectual and developmental disability waitlist.

Rep. Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville, said his opposition is because "it is for the able bodied working age adults, it doesn't sign on any children, doesn't sign any of the disabled, doesn't sign on any of the poorest of the poor — they're already covered."

Christine Osterlund, the state Medicaid director, had told lawmakers adults only qualify at or below 38% of the federal poverty level. For a single parent with one child, that means $648 a month — or $7,776 a year — is the maximum.

"I do look at this as Medicaid expansion being socialized medicine, and that the United States of America is not a socialist country," said Rep. Carrie Barth, R-Baldwin City.

Can Medicaid expansion still happen in 2024?

While the Senate had an informational hearing on Medicaid expansion, its committees have not taken up a bill.

Because the House committee is not expected to meet again this session, there likely won't be another chance for House Democrats to get the bill out of committee through normal processes.

They can attempt a procedural move on the House floor to pull the bill out of committee, but that would require 70 votes, which is seven more than a simple majority. Democrats hold 40 seats.

They can also try to amend Medicaid expansion into a health bill while on the floor. But that would require the GOP-led rules committee to not rule it nongermane.

While some Republican legislators have said they support Medicaid expansion, they have not backed such procedural moves in the past.

Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, told reporters after the committee vote that she would be supportive of an effort to bring it to the House floor, but "that poses an additional challenge."

"An overwhelming majority of Kansans support Medicaid expansion," she said. "I hoped that the representatives here today would listen to their constituents, and it's really disappointing that this bill has been prevented from moving forward."

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Medicaid expansion in Kansas rejected by health committee Republicans