Governor Laura Kelly introduced her Medicaid expansion proposal, the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans (HAWK) Act, this week to both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. The bill was presented in the House Appropriations Committee by Representative Barbara Ballard and in the Senate Ways and Means Committee by Senator Pat Pettey.

Expanding Medicaid would add 23,000 new jobs, bring $1.2 billion in annual funding to the state’s economy, and lower healthcare costs for Kansans. It would also address the state’s healthcare workforce shortage and help ensure that rural hospitals remain open and adequately staffed to serve residents statewide.

“The Healthcare Access for Working Kansans (HAWK) Act protects our rural hospitals, bolsters our health care workforce, and strengthens our economy — all while coming at no cost to Kansans. In fact, by waiting to expand Medicaid, we have wasted over $280 million and left $7.6 billion on the table in Washington D.C.,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I encourage the legislature to advance Medicaid expansion this session so we can bring Kansas taxpayer dollars back home to support our health care system.”