38 states have expanded Medicaid as of Aug. 5, 2020. Missouri is proudly added! (click on image to enlarge)

The Kansas City Medical Society and the Kansas City Medical Society Foundation support Medicaid expansion in Kansas and Missouri.

Thank you for your support of Missouri Amendment 2 in August 2020 enabling Medicaid expansion. Expansion is now being implemented in Missouri, set to take effect July 1, 2021. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes full funding for expansion. Advocates are monitoring the process to ensure that expansion is implemented in a fair and equitable way.

In Kansas, facing strong resistance to Medicaid expansion in the legislature, Gov. Laura Kelly announced on February 1 a proposal to fund Medicaid expansion with proceeds from legalization of “medical” marijuana. The Kansas City Medical Society and the KCMS Foundation support expansion, but are not taking a position on Gov. Kelly’s proposal.

To help keep you informed about expansion, tune in to our Medicaid Expansion Update webinar series … the second Thursday of every month from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. from now through August. Each month, we will take an in-depth look at aspects of expansion ranging from the economic impact to tips on being an effective advocate. Our first webinar will be Thursday, March 11, on “What Is Medicaid/KanCare Expansion and What Does it Mean to Kansas?” Speakers will be Kansas State Sen. Pat Pettey and former Health Forward Foundation CEO Bridget McCandless, MD, MBA. Learn more and register

If you are not already on our Medicaid expansion supporter email list, you can enroll as a supporter and receive regular updates on the progress of advocacy in Kansas and implementation in Missouri.