By Trish Svoboda

Today, May 7, Representative Sharice Davids announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has granted $1.3 million to the Health Partnership Clinic. This is aimed at broadening healthcare accessibility in the Greater Kansas City Area. The Health Partnership Clinic, known for offering top-tier health care to individuals with low income in Kansas’ Third District, plans to allocate the funds towards operational costs, which encompass staff wages and translation services.

Since her tenure in Congress began, Davids has been dedicated to enhancing the affordability and accessibility of health care for all residents of Kansas. She played a pivotal role in the passage of a groundbreaking law that allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs. This law also sets a limit on insulin costs at $35 for those covered by Medicare. Following Davids’ advocacy for extending this price cap to all insulin users, the three leading insulin manufacturers, who collectively control about 90 percent of the U.S. insulin market, declared their intention to reduce or limit the price of insulin.

In Congress, Davids has championed affordable, accessible healthcare for Kansans. She aided in passing a law enabling Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and cap insulin costs. Following her advocacy, top insulin producers announced price reductions. Davids, with Governor Laura Kelly, visited the Health Partnership Clinic to advocate for Medicaid expansion. The clinic, recipient of American Rescue Plan funding, expanded COVID-19 operations and offers primary care, dental, and mental health services across five locations in Kansas.

“Everyone should have access to quality and affordable health care, but many Kansans struggle to access the care they need due to skyrocketing costs. That’s where community health centers, like Health Partnership Clinic, step in,” said Davids. “They play a vital role in providing health care services to Kansans, no matter their income level or background. I’ll continue supporting all health centers in our community because access to health care ensures folks in our community can live safe, healthy, and productive lives.”