Medicaid serves as a crucial source of health insurance coverage for Kansas families, including children, parents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, those in need of behavioral health support, and residents of rural communities. Congressional lawmakers are currently considering $880 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program, which would reduce Medicaid funding and terminate coverage for vulnerable Kansans.
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and REACH Healthcare Foundation recently partnered with experts from Manatt Health to shed light on the potential impacts of those cuts on Kansas over the next decade.
According to Manatt’s estimates, if Congress changed how Medicaid is funded (i.e., through a per capita cap) Kansas could see up to $347M in cuts in Medicaid funds in the first year enacted and $3.15 billion over ten years. As a result of the cuts, impacts to Kansans would likely include an increase in termination of coverage and benefits for vulnerable populations, rising personal medical debt, and the risk of more hospital closures across the state.
While Manatt’s estimates were developed before final legislative proposals are expected to be enacted by Summer 2025, they align closely with policy parameters, options and effective dates outlined by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and previously introduced legislative proposals. The REACH Healthcare Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund have prepared a brief summarizing key findings of the Manatt report and will continue to closely monitor Congressional actions. As more specific policies are adopted, Manatt will update its estimates and also consider the interactive effects of those changes.
To read the brief, click here.
Contacts: Brenda Sharpe at brenda@reachhealth.org or David Jordan at david@healthfund.org.