The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas Introduced in House and Senate
Unique Kansas solution is budget-neutral, likely to produce financial gain for Kansas
New legislation was introduced today in the Kansas House and Senate that creates a
bridge within the current KanCare program to provide affordable health care coverage for approximately
150,000 Kansans who do not earn enough to afford private insurance.
This new, budget-neutral program makes health care coverage more accessible for low-income Kansans at no
additional cost to Kansas taxpayers and without using State General Funds. In fact, with federal funds
replacing state funds and a program emphasis on primary and preventive care to lower health care costs, The
Bridge to a Healthy Kansas is likely to produce a net financial gain for Kansas. Independent sources suggest
the financial gain to Kansas could reach $178 million in 2017, with positive net gains every year thereafter
The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas provides a unique solution for health care coverage. By requiring program
participants to be accountable for covering a portion of their costs through a personal Health Savings Account,
The Bridge to a Healthy Kansas is designed to create a path to greater health and personal responsibility for
those currently in the coverage gap.
A legislative brief of the bill is available online.
The Kansas Hospital Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization existing to be the leading advocate and
resource for members. KHA membership includes 212 member facilities, of which 126 are full-service,
community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA’s vision is: “Optimal Health for Kansas.”