House GOP rolls out health care proposals

JOHN MILBURN

Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. - House Republicans promised Monday to work on making health insurance less costly for employers and workers and to help poor Kansans get off Medicaid and into private coverage.

But they remained vague about the details, answered few questions from reporters and said some of their proposals are still being drafted for committee review. Flanked by about two dozen members, GOP leaders outlined a "KanCare" package during a news conference on the 57th of 90 scheduled days in session.

"I see this as foundational for setting the scope of overall reform," said Rep. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park and a physician who led the GOP task force developing the package.

Some components would require getting greater flexibility from the federal Department of Health and Human Services administering Medicaid to poor Kansans. Funds from the state's share of the national tobacco settlement would be used to attract federal dollars to finance the initiatives.

"The problems facing the health care system in Kansas, coupled with the opportunity to utilize millions of Medicaid dollars, necessitates immediate action," said House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell.

About 300,000 Kansans are uninsured. Young adults make up about one-third of uninsured working-age Kansans, with 57 percent of them aged 18-34.

Earlier this session, Senate leaders rolled out their own proposals, including a plan Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, advanced during his unsuccessful campaign for governor, to create a health "connector," a clearinghouse through which Kansans would buy insurance.

House Republicans said they would also work with the Health Policy Authority, established in 2005 as the umbrella agency, regarding state-administered health programs.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius included expanding Medicaid coverage to all children aged 5 and under in her proposed budget. She proposed the same last year, but legislators balked, worried it could cost the state more than advertised.

"This is a step we can take this year which will have a big impact on the lives of Kansas children," she said Monday. "That's why the Health Policy Authority has endorsed it and why the Senate supported it last year. We have an opportunity to give Kansas children a greater chance of success, and I hope legislators will join me in making that happen."

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld said the House GOP plan didn't expand Medicaid coverage to more Kansans, but the total package would make it likely that fewer Kansans would be without some level of health coverage.

"It's how you put the parts together that makes it work," said Neufeld, R-Ingalls. "One of the keys to moving forward and changing the system is the ability to move people out of traditional Medicaid into subsidized insurance."

House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, D-Greensburg, said: "I look forward to a bipartisan effort to tackle this complex issue. The people of Kansas deserve a serious effort."