Some state lawmakers are considering allowing some form of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act amid the looming closure of a hospital in southeast Kansas.
Mercy Hospital in Independence announced last week that it was closing its doors on Oct. 10, partly due to declining reimbursement rates from Medicare.
Senate Vice President Jeff King said Tuesday that Kansas should consider a state-centric approach to addressing poor residents' health care needs.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that King's support of an expansion plan could be important because the only Medicaid expansion bills introduced so far in the Legislature have been in the House, where Republican leaders have refused to allow debate and votes on any bills.
At least 30 other states have implemented some kind of Medicaid expansion plan.
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