Kansas Leaders Clash Over Proposed Medicaid Cuts: Lifeline or Fiscal Overreach?
TOPEKA, KS — May 6, 2025
A sharp political divide emerged Monday as Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued dueling statements over proposed federal cuts to Medicaid that could cost the state up to $1 billion in the first year alone.
Governor Kelly, a Democrat, called on the Kansas Congressional Delegation to reject the proposal, warning that the cuts would devastate health care access for more than 443,000 vulnerable Kansans, strain rural hospitals, and threaten coverage for low-income seniors, pregnant women, children, and individuals with disabilities.
“These cuts would be particularly detrimental to our rural hospitals and providers,” Kelly said, pointing out that 63 of the state’s 99 rural hospitals are already at risk of closure. “We must stand up against these changes to ensure the hundreds of thousands of Kansans covered under Medicaid can continue to receive quality, affordable care.”
Kelly also noted that Kansas has already left more than $7 billion in federal funding on the table by refusing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Hawkins: “Fearmongering” and Misunderstanding
Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins fired back, accusing the governor of “fearmongering” and misrepresenting the nature of the cuts.
“The truth is, President Trump is talking about righting the ship on Medicaid and ensuring it’s sustainable for years to come,” Hawkins said in a statement. He argued that the current system prioritizes able-bodied adults over the frail, elderly, and disabled — those Medicaid was “intended for.”
Hawkins praised the Trump administration’s push for work requirements and efforts to reduce “waste, fraud, and abuse” in Medicaid. He claimed the governor’s policies aim to turn Medicaid into “taxpayer-funded coverage for anyone who wants it,” calling that approach unsustainable.
Competing Visions for the Future of Medicaid
At the center of the dispute is a stark contrast in ideology:
- Governor Kelly emphasizes Medicaid as a foundational health program that must be expanded and protected to prevent the collapse of rural health care infrastructure and safeguard public health.
- Speaker Hawkins and other Kansas Republicans argue that fiscal responsibility and targeted eligibility — not broader access — are key to preserving Medicaid’s future.
The debate has real stakes for Kansas programs like PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), which rely on federal Medicaid dollars to keep seniors in their homes and out of nursing facilities. Because PACE is considered an “optional” Medicaid service, it may be among the first affected if cuts proceed.
What’s Next?
As the Trump administration pushes ahead with its budget plan and Congress begins debate, Kansas remains caught in a broader national fight over the future of Medicaid — with consequences that could reshape health care access across the state.
“This isn’t about politics,” Governor Kelly said. “It’s about keeping Kansans healthy, on the job, and contributing to our growing economy.”
Speaker Hawkins, meanwhile, has signaled that Republican leadership will continue to resist Medicaid expansion and support structural reforms to rein in federal spending.
