Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, on Thursday, during a visit to the Holton Community Hospital, unveiled what's called the Cutting Healthcare Costs for All Kansans Act to expand Medicaid across the state.

According to a release from Kelly's office, the proposed state and federal health insurance program would expand Medicaid to an estimated 150,000 Kansans at no additional cost to state taxpayers. The release, calling the plan a "commonsense legislative proposal," explains that it "builds on previous bipartisan Medicaid Expansion proposals to address Republican concerns, including by making the bill revenue-neutral."

Introduction of the legislation follows the Governor's months-long "Healthy Workers, Healthy Economy" tour, with the proposed bill to expand health coverage to working Kansans who currently make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but don’t receive health insurance through work or make too little to afford private health insurance.

Kelly, during comments made at the Holton stop, said, "at this point, every legislator standing in the way of Medicaid expansion is going against a commonsense, fiscally responsible proposal that benefits their constituents."

Kelly was joined for her announcement by Medicaid expansion advocates and stakeholders, Kansas legislators, and area leaders.

Republican Senator John Doll, in the release, voiced his support for the plan, saying that the proposal addresses many of the concerns he's heard from Republican colleagues by including a work requirement and multiple funding streams to ensure Kansas taxpayers won’t foot the bill for Medicaid expansion. According to the release, there will be exceptions to the work requirement, including for full-time students, full-time caretakers, veterans, and Kansans with medical conditions.

Along with saying the plan will grow the Kansas workforce, the release notes that it would also reduce uncompensated care costs and improve public safety.