In Kansas News
A new poll by KFF, a health policy research organization, found 54% of the American public is concerned federal cuts to Medicaid will make it harder for their families to access health care.
Federal lawmakers are considering funding cuts to the program that provides health care coverage to low-income citizens and people with disabilities.April Holman is executive director of Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. She says a lot of Kansans are worried that they’ll lose health care coverage or won’t be able to stay home to care for their loved ones.
“The consumers that we talk to really don’t care about the politics of this issue. They are concerned about surviving.”
The U.S. Senate still needs to approve the cuts that are part of a large budget bill. President Donald Trump asked lawmakers to pass it by July 4th.
In Missouri news
President Donald Trump signed off on Gov. Mike Kehoe’s request to get federal aid to victims of the May 16 tornado that ripped through the St. Louis area.
Trump’s approval of a major disaster declaration request means tornado victims can get access to Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for housing, transportation, health care and child care.
But since hundreds of FEMA employees either retired or were fired since Trump returned to office, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer says the city is expected to play a major role in educating people about applying for aid.
“We do anticipate that we're going to play an active role. We're going to be required to play an active role, and we are positioning ourselves to be ready to play that active role.”
The state and the city are also preparing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars for tornado victims.
Fewer children in Missouri and Kansas lived in poverty in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic years. KCUR’s Jodi Fortino has more on the latest Kids Count data..
The annual child wellness report says federal policies like the child tax credit lessened the blow of the worst economic effects of the pandemic.
Jessica Herrera (heh-RAIR-uh) Russell is senior communications manager for Kansas Action for Children. She says proposed federal budget cuts could limit families’ access to support like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“Sick parents aren't going to be able to consistently work. Hungry kids aren't going to be able to learn. So this is where we really need to make sure that we ensure that everybody who is eligible is able to get help”
Herrera Russell says 3,000 Kansas children lost health insurance from 2022 to 2023.
