Thousands of Kansans are at risk of losing their health insurance if Congress moves forward with proposed federal Medicaid cuts. A new analysis estimates that 13,000 people in Kansas would lose Medicaid coverage, and the state could lose as much as $3.77 billion in funding over the next decade.
The estimates come from Manatt Health, a firm specializing in health care consulting and legal services. Their projections, funded by the REACH Healthcare Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, highlight the potential impact of the cuts included in the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill, aimed at reducing taxes and national spending, recently passed the U.S. House and is now under consideration in the Senate. President Donald Trump has urged lawmakers to pass it by July 4.
David Jordan, president and CEO of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, warned that the legislation would harm vulnerable Kansans. “This is a dire situation for Kansas and our health care landscape,” he said. “Medicaid is critical for the health of rural Kansans and the financial stability of our rural hospitals.”
Manatt Health’s report shows the state would lose $2.29 billion in federal Medicaid funding and $1.48 billion in state funding over 10 years. While the cuts primarily target states that expanded Medicaid, experts believe Kansas — which has not expanded the program — would still face severe losses.
Jordan noted that the bill includes several provisions that would make it harder for Kansans to enroll in or stay on Medicaid. “Real Kansans are already frustrated by the hoops they have to jump through,” he said. “This bill just makes it tougher for them to access the help they need to raise their families.”
The bill also blocks states from raising provider taxes, a tool many hospitals use to help fund their share of Medicaid. April Holman, executive director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, said this would further strain rural hospitals. “If they see more uncompensated care from more people who are not insured, it could mean the end of those hospitals,” she said.
The cuts have drawn opposition from both the public and lawmakers. Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, both Republicans, have spoken out against the plan. A recent KFF poll shows that 54% of Americans fear the cuts will make it harder for their families to get health care, while 71% worry about the effects on hospitals and nursing homes.
Holman said Kansans are focused on the real-life impact. “The consumers that we talk to really don’t care about the politics of this issue,” she said. “They are concerned about surviving.”
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