Davids Responds to Governor Kelly’s Plea, Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Medicaid for Kansas Families

Today, Representative Sharice Davids responded to Governor Laura Kelly’s request to Kansas’ Congressional Delegation, echoing Kelly’s call to reject proposed federal cuts to Medicaid that would devastate health care access for Kansas families — especially seniors, children, rural communities, and people with disabilities.

“I stand with Governor Kelly in urging all federal leaders to reject these devastating Medicaid cuts,” said Davids. “We’re talking about life-saving care for more than 443,000 Kansans — care for new moms, children, and seniors. I’ve fought time and again to protect and expand Medicaid in Kansas because our families shouldn’t have to pay more or travel farther just to get the health care they need.”

In Washington D.C., Republican leaders are pushing a partisan budget that, according to nonpartisan experts, would slash Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. The proposed cuts could cost Kansas up to $1 billion in the first year alone, jeopardizing hospital operations — particularly in rural areas where 64 percent of hospitals are already at risk of closure.

Davids has consistently pushed back against extreme efforts to slash Medicaid funding, calling out proposals that threaten coverage for working families while giving tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. Rather, she supports a bipartisan approach that protects Medicaid coverage, lowers costs for hardworking Kansans, and strengthens local economies.

Davids has been a strong advocate for protecting and expanding Medicaid to ensure Kansans have access to affordable health care. She has:

• Opposed multiple efforts this year that could slash Medicaid funding, calling for bipartisan solutions that lower costs and improve care rather than threaten Kansans' health and economic security.
• Fought to expand Medicaid in Kansas, which would cover an additional 150,000 Kansans and strengthen rural hospitals.
  • A report found that Kansas could increase its economic output by $17 billion and add an estimated 23,000 new jobs if the state chose to expand Medicaid.
• Prioritized the responsible use of taxpayer dollars by supporting bipartisan legislation to stop improper Medicaid payments for deceased individuals that had gone unnoticed.
• Supported legislation to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, reducing maternal mortality and improving health outcomes for new mothers.