Davids Hosts Rural Health Care Roundtable, Highlights Impact of Medicaid Cuts on Kansas Communities

PAOLA, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids convened a roundtable with leaders from rural hospitals, community health clinics, and other organizations serving rural Kansans to discuss the harmful impact of recent Trump-pushed Medicaid cuts — made to fund tax giveaways for billionaires. With Kansas already having lost several rural hospitals over the past decade, these new cuts threaten to accelerate closures and further limit access to care in rural communities.

“Rural hospitals are already stretched thin, and these reckless Medicaid cuts only make it worse,” said Davids. “If we lose a rural hospital, everyone in that community — whether they’re on Medicaid or not — loses access to life-saving care. And these cuts don’t just put lives at risk. They drive up costs for everyone by forcing people to travel farther, wait longer, and delay the care they need. I’ll keep fighting to protect Kansas hospitals and the families who rely on them.”

The extreme budget law, signed by President Trump, includes the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. According to the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the new law will strip coverage from 92,937 Kansans, put six rural hospitals across Kansas at risk of closure, restrict reproductive health care, and increase Affordable Care Act premiums by $708 per year for Third District families.

Medicaid is a lifeline for rural hospitals, especially in states like Kansas that haven’t expanded coverage. Cuts pushed by President Trump and Congressional Republicans will strip more than $78 million annually from Kansas hospitals, threatening facilities that already serve large numbers of uninsured patients. With Medicaid covering one-fifth of hospital spending, these cuts will increase uncompensated care, worsen overall public health, and could push struggling hospitals past the breaking point — reducing access, worsening outcomes, and forcing Kansans to travel hours for treatment.

“We appreciate Representative Davids’ continued focus on rural health care and her willingness to engage directly with hospitals throughout the district,” said Chad Austin, President and CEO, Kansas Hospital Association. “Her support on issues like 340B, Rural Emergency Hospitals and Medicare Advantage reflects a strong commitment to ensuring hospitals are appropriately supported so we can continue delivering high-quality care in Kansas communities.”

“Elizabeth Layton Center appreciates Representative Davids consistent advocacy for the protection of Medicaid benefits for those in need,” said Leslie Bjork, PsyD, LP, Executive Director, Elizabeth Layton Center, Inc. “As the community mental health center serving rurally designated Franklin and Miami Counties, Medicaid is essential in helping the most vulnerable and disabled individuals in our community to access necessary mental and behavioral health care. When people access the healthcare they need, it improves the quality of life for that person and their family and also allows for full functioning within our community. This is a win for everyone!”

Participants in today’s roundtable included AdventHealth Ottawa, Anderson County Hospital, Elizabeth Layton Center, Health Partnership Clinic, Heartland Community Health Center, Kansas Hospital Association, and Miami County Medical Center.

The harmful provisions in the budget law go far beyond health care. In the Kansas Third District alone, 15,000 households could lose access to emergency nutrition assistance, and local grocery stores — especially in rural communities — may be forced to close. Cuts to clean energy incentives could eliminate up to 10,000 good-paying jobs and increase utility bills by $670 per household. Meanwhile, the law adds $3.3 trillion to the national debt and gives massive tax breaks to billionaires, even as it raises taxes on hardworking families.

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.