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OPINION
Failure to expand Medicaid hurts the bottom line of our Kansas local communities. Push your lawmakers to act.
By Shannon Portillo and Jade Piros de Carvalho
Special to Gannett Kansas
As local governments across Kansas work on their budgets this summer, counties and cities are struggling to keep mill levies stable amid revenue shortfalls and skyrocketing material costs.
Unfortunately, state lawmakers’ refusal to expand Medicaid left federal dollars on the table that could have offset local tax burdens. To date, Kansas has forfeited more than $4.9 billion because of the Legislature’s refusal to expand Medicaid. Kansas will lose an additional $450 million in American Rescue Plan funding by continuing to not act.