Health in the 34th

Big changes are coming to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and some take effect as soon as November 1. In this episode of Health in the 34th, we break down what Kansans need to know with special guest Haley Kottler, Thriving Campaign Director for Kansas Appleseed.In this episode we cover:How SNAP works and who is enrolled in the programWhat changes Kansans can expect in the coming monthsThe connection between SNAP and rural grocery storesKansas's long history with SNAP, andWhat new work requirements could mean for Kansas families.Haley also shares practical ways Kansans can take action and support their neighbors as these changes take hold.For a printable PDF of changes coming to SNAP, Medicaid, the ACA Marketplace, and tax policy, download: https://expandkancare.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Updated_bus-tour-handout-PDF.pdf

In this episode of Health in the 34th, we break down the sweeping health care changes packed into H.R. 1, also known as the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed this summer. What exactly is in it?How will it change the way Kansans access care, pay for treatment, and navigate coverage in the years ahead?When can you expect to see the effects of the bill?We take a look at the real-world impact on families, health care providers, and communities across the state.From more administrative "red tape" to questions about affordability and access, we'll help you understand what's coming and how you can prepare for it.For more about the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, visit us at ExpandKanCare.com. We're also on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and BlueSky.

There is a lot going on in the world of health both in Kansas and at the federal level. We are here to give you the things you should know right now, and three things you can do to make a difference starting today. Topics include:Federal threats to Medicaid, including who is at risk of losing coverage and some sneakier ways Congress might make them happen;Kansas Legislative wrap up, including a win and two new laws to keep an eye on (especially in the midst of Measles and Tuberculosis outbreaks); andChanges in Health Insurance Marketplace coverage and new polling showing the popularity of Medicaid.If you are looking for things to do to make a difference, we recommend the following:Make sure your Congressional representatives know how you feel about Medicaid cuts. Now is the time to reach out before they return to Washington, DC, on April 28.Find a time to connect with your state representatives while they are back home this summer and fall. Bills introduced this year are still up for debate next year, so make sure they hear from you.Sign and share the petition to reject cuts to Medicaid. You can find the petition pinned to the Alliance's profile pages on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky (@ExpandKanCare everywhere).

The 2025 Rally for Health Care took place March 12 at the Kansas Capitol. On this episode we bring you the full audio from the Rally, with immersive audio so you can experience the excitement and energy that was in the room. Speakers at the rally included:April Holman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Healthy KansasMelinda McDaniel, Wichita resident who lives in the coverage gapShari Coatney, President & CEO of SKIL Resource Center in southeast KansasBecky Fast, Executive Director of the Kansas Chapter of the National Association of Social WorkersKansas Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce David TolandJohn Wilson, President & CEO of Kansas Action for ChildrenMake sure you are subscribed to email updates so you can stay in touch with action alerts for protecting Medicaid and Medicaid expansion in Kansas. Sign up at ExpandKanCare.com. Find us on social media: @ExpandKanCare on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & BlueSky

In this week's episode we take a look at what has happened recently in the health policy at the state and federal levels. Some highlights:Medicaid expansion bills introduced in the Kansas House and SenateThree votes in the Kansas Legislature on Medicaid expansionFederal budget reconciliation proposals that would result in severe cuts to MedicaidThere is still time to call your Congressional representatives and tell them: No Cuts to Medicaid! You can use the following hotline number and they'll help connect you with the right office: 1-866-426-2631.Join us for the Rally for Medicaid Expansion happening March 12, 2025, at 12:30pm at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka. More information at ExpandKanCare.com.

A recent report from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families showed how critical Medicaid coverage is for rural communities in Kansas. At all stages of life, more rural Kansans rely on Medicaid than those who live in urban or suburban areas.In this episode we talk with Adrienne Olejnik, Vice President of Kansas Action for Children (KAC), about the report and what it means for Kansans who live in rural communities. We also cover more recent topics, including:The recent federal freeze on Medicaid and social assistance programs;Food insecurity and health care needs of Kansas children; and Policy initiatives that KAC are supporting this legislative session.To find out more about Kansas Action for Children, visit them at kac.org. To find out more about the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, Medicaid expansion, or other Kansas health advocacy work, visit us at ExpandKanCare.com, or find us @ExpandKanCare on most social media platforms.

Happy New Year! The 2025 Kansas Legislative Session began this week, so in this episode we do a deep dive into who will be setting laws in Kansas after last fall's elections. We are thrilled to welcome our colleague Sean Gatewood, who specializes in advocacy work, to give us his detailed insights.In this episode we cover:Who are the key Kansas legislators in setting the agenda in the House and Senate?What committees are most likely to hear health policy and who sit on those committees?How can advocates get a head start in advocating for health policies they care the most about?Be sure to join our email list at ExpandKanCare.com to stay up to date on health policy in Kansas and to receive Action Alerts about steps you can take to advocate for a healthy Kansas. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

Most of the results from the November 5, 2024, election are in! In this episode, we talk about what the election results mean in Kansas and on the federal level, and things that health advocates should keep an eye on, including:Possible attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act/ObamacarePossible changes to MedicaidThe layout of the new Kansas Legislature, and what that means for advocacy workPlease continue to stay tuned in and connected with us as our advocacy work will be more important than ever in the upcoming years.*A scheduling note: this will be the final episode of Health in the 34th until the first week of January. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you'll know as soon as the next episode drops.

In 1991, Kansas was ranked 8th in the nation in health factors, according to the longest-running state-by-state analysis, America's Health Rankings. In the 2023 report, which was released this summer, Kansas now ranks 29th. In 2014, In this episode we examine various health factors in the report to look for the trends and reasons why health in Kansas is backsliding. What is Kansas doing right, and what do we need to improve upon?We also look at how the United States compares to other countries, and how national improvements may not necessarily translate into state improvements.To see the full America's Health Rankings 2023 Annual Report, visit americashealthrankings.org. The Annual Report is the longest running state-by-state analysis of our nation's health, and is a partnership between the United Health Foundation and the American Public Health Association.If anyone has access to the 1991 Annual Report, we want to hear from you! Email us at info@expandkancare.com - we'd love to see the full text.For more information about the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas or Medicaid expansion, visit us at ExpandKanCare.com or on social media at @ExpandKanCare.

In Part 2 of our series on why Kansas cities and counties should support Medicaid expansion we look at the economic factors and impact on the Kansas workforce. We also talk through how Medicaid expansion is a critical policy to help the thousands of Kansans experiencing homelessness, and the cities and counties that fund programs to help them.In this episode, we'll tackle the following questions:What benefits will small business owners see under expansion?How can expanding Medicaid help expand the workforce?How are health and homelessness connected?What can local government officials do to support Medicaid expansion in Kansas?Check out the National Coalition for the Homeless for more information on homelessness, and find more information and resources about Medicaid expansion in Kansas at ExpandKanCare.com.

Although Medicaid expansion is a policy that must be passed by the Kansas Legislature, that doesn't mean that local governments, like city & county governments, shouldn't be in the conversation. Medicaid expansion brings many benefits to local governments, and it's important that they stay involved in the state-level conversationIn this Part 1 episode, we talk about how local governments can have healthier residents and save local tax dollars with Medicaid expansion through the criminal justice system and behavioral health services. We'll answer these questions:How does crime decrease when a state expands Medicaid?What are the ways local jails can save money with Medicaid expansion?Can behavioral health providers handle an influx of patients gaining coverage under Medicaid expansion? And how will that affect their budgets?On the next episode, we'll dive into Part 2 - how local governments can benefit in the economic & workforce area, and how Medicaid expansion can help the unhoused population in cities.For resources and more information, find us at ExpandKanCare.com.

In this episode we take a look at the last 15 years of health in the United States and Kansas, specifically walking through the events that led Kansas to be one of the last 10 states to expand our Medicaid program.The Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010, and most parts of the law came into effect on January 1, 2014. What happened between those two dates that led to Kansas going from an innovative, early adopter of health improvements, to falling behind of much of the rest of the country? Also, find out why we believe the 2025 legislative session is one of the best chances we have of expanding Medicaid in Kansas, and how you can get involved to make sure it happens.For resources and more information, find us at ExpandKanCare.com or @ExpandKanCare on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

In this episode we talk about the Storycorps Training that we recently held in Wichita, including how even our best contingency plans didn't prepare us for what we encountered. Plus: stories are one of the most powerful tools that advocates can use to effect policy change. We talk about why stories of Kansans living in the health insurance coverage gap are so critical to our work, and what you can expect if you consider sharing your story with us.

In this episode, we break down what Medicaid Expansion isn't, so you can better understand what it is. We answer many questions we hear from everyday Kansans, including the following:> Is Medicaid expansion a federal mandate for states?> Will Medicaid expansion harm Kansans with disabilities?> How will nursing homes be affected by Medicaid expansion?> Will Medicaid expansion really reduce health care costs for everyone?> And more!For more information about Medicaid expansion or the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, visit ExpandKanCare.com or find us on social media - @ExpandKanCare on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.

To kick off Season 2o of Health in the 34th, Marissa, April and Lacey catch up on what happened during the 2024 Kansas legislative session and talk about what is to come for the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas and Medicaid expansion in Kansas.

This bonus episode features the full audio from the press conference held by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly in Winfield, KS, on September 20, 2023. In this press conference, Governor Kelly announces her intention to make KanCare expansion her top priority for the 2024 legislative session and announces a statewide tour to bring attention to it.This episode also features the following speakers:Brian Barta, CEO, William Newton Hospital in WinfieldAlex Gottlob, Owner, Gottlob Lawn & LandscapeChandra Di Piazza, Wichita resident

Work requirements are a common bargaining chip for some policymakers when legislating programs like Medicaid, SNAP and TANF. But do they really work to increase employment rates for enrollees in these programs?In this episode we talk to Laura Harker, senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, about the history of work requirements and what other states have experienced when trying to implement them.Bottom line: work requirements don't work like many think they will. Instead of increasing employment, they end up taking critical health care away from those who need it the most.Resources from this episode:Expanding Work Requirements Would Make It Harder for People to Meet Basic Needs (CBPP research article, March 2023)Taking Medicaid Away for Not Meeting a Work-Reporting Requirement Would Keep People From Health Care (CBPP research article, April 2023)Can You Keep Your Medicaid in Arkansas? digital boardgame

Medicaid renewals have been on pause since 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. But now renewals have resumed, and thousands of Kansans will need to provide documentation to show eligibility for KanCare. But many KanCare recipients haven't had to go through the renewal process, and many others have moved or otherwise had a change of situation since the last time they have renewed. We talk with Kate Gramlich, Cover Kansas Project Specialist at the Community Care Network of Kansas, to discuss what Medicaid renewals mean for Kansans, especially those who fall in the health insurance coverage gap.

"...hardworking Kansans and families are going without the care they need. Some are getting very ill, and some are even dying because of this. They don't have access to care." -- Carol Bush, Kansas nurseNurses, more than many others, see the effects of a lack of health insurance has on people who live in the coverage gap. They work everyday for their communities and the people who live in them, and often go above and beyond to provide whatever health care help they can.We talk to four Kansas nurses about their experiences with patients in the coverage gap and why they advocate for KanCare expansion.

This bonus episode features the full audio from the Rally for KanCare Expansion held March 15, 2023.