Davids Visits Community Health Center, Highlights Medicaid Cuts’ Impact on Kansas Health Care Access

OTTAWA, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Heartland Community Health Center’s Healthy Futures mobile dental program at Ottawa High School, which provides dental exams and cleanings to local students. Recent Medicaid cuts, which Davids voted against, are threatening the financial stability of Heartland and other federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), raising the risk that some clinics could be forced to scale back services or even close due to the loss of a major source of revenue.

“Community health centers like Heartland are where people of all backgrounds and incomes go when they need care — whether it’s a kid getting a dental exam, a parent managing a chronic condition, or someone reaching out for mental health support,” said Davids. “When Medicaid is cut, it means fewer appointments, fewer providers, and clinics closing their doors altogether. If centers like Heartland are forced to scale back or shut down, families in these communities will have to travel farther, wait longer, or go without care entirely. That’s the real impact, and it’s why I’m fighting to protect access to care across Kansas.”

Last year, Davids voted against an extreme, partisan budget law, which included the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. The law stripped health coverage from 92,937 Kansans, put six rural hospitals at risk of closure, restricted reproductive health care, and increased Affordable Care Act premiums by an average of $708 per year for families in Kansas’ Third District.

FQHCs, which mainly serve low-income families, depend heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to sustain their operations. When fewer people are covered by Medicaid, these clinics lose a major source of funding while still caring for uninsured patients. Davids warned that because of extreme Medicaid cuts, clinics like Heartland may be forced to reduce services, limit patient care, or struggle to recruit and retain providers — ultimately pushing more patients to seek care in already strained emergency rooms.

"Heartland's Healthy Futures program reduces barriers to care by taking comprehensive dental services out to schools,” said Julie Branstrom, Chief Executive Officer, Heartland Community Health Center. “This is particularly important in rural communities where families may encounter additional barriers like transportation or a lack of dental providers. Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States and can negatively impact children's quality of life, school performance and overall health. School-based programs Like Healthy Futures help to bridge gaps for underserved populations, ensuring that all children have access to necessary dental care. We are grateful for Rep. Davids' support of Federally Qualified Health Centers who serve the whole of their communities, regardless of someone's ability to pay."

Hospitals across Kansas are also projected to lose more than $78 million annually because of these cuts. Facilities like the University of Kansas Hospital, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission are expected to face some of the steepest financial losses. Because Medicaid currently covers one-fifth of hospital spending, reductions in coverage will significantly increase uncompensated care — placing additional strain not only on hospitals but also on community health centers.

Heartland Community Health Center provides primary care, mental health services, dental care, and pediatric services to residents across Douglas County and surrounding communities. Programs like Healthy Futures help ensure that children can receive essential care regardless of their family’s income or insurance status. During her visit, Davids met with providers and staff to discuss the critical role community health centers play in delivering care to low-income Kansans — and the serious risks posed by recent Medicaid cuts.

Throughout her time in Congress, Davids has championed policies to make health care more affordable and accessible. She voted to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare recipients, extend tax credits that help families afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. She also supported giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices — saving 74,000 Kansans up to 79 percent — and led efforts to ban surprise medical billing and increase transparency from insurers to help patients avoid costly out-of-network care.