Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Kansas is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid in the more than a decade since the Affordable Care Act took effect, and it has remained one of our readers’ top issues every election cycle since. Projections suggest expanding Medicaid would allow roughly 150,000 Kansans who can’t currently afford health coverage to be insured. Do you support expanding Medicaid in Kansas? Why or why not?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 37
Sherry Giebler (Democratic)
Despite overwhelming public support, the Republican
supermajority has repeatedly failed to act on one of the most
pressing issues facing Kansas today: Medicaid expansion. This is not a partisan issue. Over 70% of Kansans—across party lines—support expanding Medicaid, yet a small group of extremists in the legislature continue to obstruct progress.
Medicaid expansion is about more than just healthcare access; it is about honoring the will of the people and ensuring that every Kansan, regardless of their circumstances, has the care and support they deserve. Expanding Medicaid is a crucial step in closing the healthcare gap, strengthening our hospitals, and revitalizing our economy. By keeping Kansas taxpayer dollars in Kansas, instead of sending them to other states, we invest in our own communities and their well-being.
This expansion isn’t just a healthcare issue—it’s an economic imperative. Medicaid expansion would generate nearly 23,000 new jobs, address our ongoing healthcare worker shortage, and provide vital relief to our struggling rural hospitals. Small businesses, the backbone of our state’s economy, stand to benefit tremendously. A recent statewide poll conducted by the Sunflower Foundation showed that 83% of small business owners support expanding Medicaid, which could save them up to $80 million annually in healthcare costs.
It is time for Kansas to join the 40 other states that have already expanded Medicaid. We can look to their successes and work collaboratively with healthcare providers to ensure fair reimbursement rates and reduce bureaucratic red tape. Together, we can advance a solution that strengthens our healthcare system, supports our workforce, and drives economic growth.
Doug Shane (Republican)
Did not provide the Post with a response.
