Guest editorial by Larry Anderson M.D.

Dear State Sen. Steve Abrams, Rep. Kyle Hoffman,  and Rep. Kasha Kelley:

I have been a Republican for more years than any of you three.   The fact that you might view me as a “Moderate” does not make me any less a real Republican than you, however. I am communicating with you again as you three are the legislators from our area and because you continue to be identified as key legislators for change as I visit with your colleagues and with leaders in my medical organizations.

We no longer live in a vacuum and while traveling and visiting with physicians, relatives, and friends from other states, it gets old taking abuse from these respected individuals as they tick off items on a growing list of Kansas Governmental Decision Disasters. This probably started off with the downgrading of Kansas bonds and most recently,  I read an editorial in a Utah paper stating that national polls show our Governor Brownback has the lowest approval rating of all the governors.   A recent poll from Fort Hays   would  seem  to  confirm  that  fact  showing  his approval rating of  21 percent.

The Brownback Experiment has failed. As our state suffers, you will personally catch the political fallout. Gov. Brownback’s future is likely secure with two more years in Topeka then on to whatever he wants to be, a lobbyist, a corporate lawyer/CEO, a college professor, or he may return to his roots as a farmer.   But what about future plans?  Do they include politics?

What is your/our biggest legislative challenge? Is it School Finance,  the repayment plan for KDOT money our party borrowed  to support the State General Fund, the delay in KPERS scheduled payments  for retirees  also needed to strengthen  the  general fund, the Governor’s power plant for the Docking building,  remaking the Kansas Supreme Court, or what about Medicaid Expansion?

Our party has blocked Medicaid Expansion now for two years leaving ONE BILLION DOLLARS on the table, yes that is with a B!! A billion dollars which would have bolstered our Kansas health care industry, especially in rural communities where higher percentages of  medicare,  Medicaid, and uninsured patients are found. With additional funding from expanded Medicaid, the Independence Hospital might have found a way to stay  open.

Kansas legislators face HUGE  challenges, but there is one beautiful sunrise issue, kind of a freebee,  that you can and should easily and quickly pass this session.   That sunrise issue is Medicaid Expansion.   Polls show that Kansans want Medicaid expansion for many reasons and you will be wise to give it to us this session.

We understand that for two years our federal tax dollars have funded this expansion in 32 other states. We are angry that our elected officials have cost our Kansas health industry a half a billion dollars each of the last two years  by not accepting Medicaid Expansion. We realize that the loud Republican Party’s cry that Kansas will be left holding the bag when federal funds are withdrawn is all smoke and noise.   You know that a withhold of these funds  is highly unlikely with 32 states already benefitting from this expansion and you also know, or should know, that our Kansas Medicaid Expansion legislation provides a cancellation of the Expansion if these federal funds are ever withheld.

We realize that with our party’s war chest of money and a  campaign  strategy  of running against Hilary and Obamacare, you will have a good chance of going back to Topeka next year.   However, street corner conversations are heating up and more and more Kansas groups are becoming fed up with what Gov. Brownback and you legislators are doing to our Great State.   Please don’t push the Kansas health care industry  into  our opposing corner.

As Kansans, we  are  raised  knowing that we are called to care for the poor and the needy.   Medicaid Expansion will help us fulfill that commandment.

Will Expansion mean bigger government?   Well yes, but there is no loss of face when you pass legislation  that  is

1. Projected to be neutral to positive for our state government.
2. May help save a Kansas hospital or two or six or eight.
3. Provide health care insurance for 150,000 working poor, and
4. Support  thousands  of health care workers by giving their patients an insurance plan which will pay these workers  for their services.

Medicaid  Expansion will be good for Kansas and good for our Republican Party.  We need to pass this legislation now.

GRACE,

Larry Anderson DVM, MD

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