Kansas Legislative Update

On February 18, 2014, AARP Volunteer David Wilson testified before a Kansas legislative committee opposing House Bill 2553 which would allow the state of Kansas to be part of a compact among several states to assert control of health care policy within their states.  Following is Wilson's testimony:

February 18, 2014

The Honorable Steve Brunk, Chair

House Federal and State Affairs Committee

Reference: House Bill 2553 –Enacting the Health Care Compact.

Good morning Chairman Brunk and members of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. My name is David Wilson and I am currently a lead hearth care volunteer and the past state president for AARP Kansas. We represent more than 333,000 members in Kansas. Thank you for this opportunity to express our comments on HB 2553. AARP opposes HB 2553 because it is a frivolous measure that does nothing at best and at worst puts seniors, Kansans with disabilities, and children at risk. The proposal has been vetoed in Arizona, New Mexico and Montana.

When I took the post of AARP Kansas State President over eight years ago, our members told me, “Don’t let the politicians hurt Medicare or Social Security.” That is why I am here today to testify in opposition to House Bill 2553, which would make Kansas part of an Interstate Health Care Compact.

This bill would give the state all of the federal health care funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program and other health care programs and allow the state to determine how those funds would be spent and how those programs would operate.

Tucked into this is the caveat that the bill is not effective until Congress consents to the right of states to enter the compact and suspend the operation of any conflicting federal law. Congress will never give that consent.

Medicare is one of the most popular federal programs in the country. A Harris Poll released in 2012 found that 88 percent of those polled support the health care program for seniors. In fact Medicare ranked as the most popular program with 57 percent supporting it a great deal and 31 percent supporting it somewhat. Medicare works fine the way it is.

It would be a serious mistake to turn this program over to the state. Since 1965, Medicare beneficiaries have received guaranteed benefits, protections, and have never once had to worry about their Medicare. In fact, over the years, their Medicare has been improved. By joining a health care compact seniors could find themselves thrown into a whole new health care system with different benefits, fewer choices, and less access to care. Why risk the health care and security of the more than 448,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Kansas – 16 percent of the total Kansas population?

There is a national conversation underway on how to ensure the future of Medicare for the country. Republicans and Democrats alike are looking at ways to protect this program so it can continue to provide health care coverage for seniors and those who are disabled and for future generations. As the Trustees Report showed, Medicare will be solvent for the next 12 years.    There is time to address the needs of the program and put it on a firmer financial foundation for the future. What is not needed is a plan to dismantle the program and dole out its funds to states to operate a fractured and fragmented program.

So many questions come to mind about how a compact would work and there are so few answers. Who would be responsible for the state’s Medicare funds? Won’t this make it more difficult to recruit doctors? Will the state cut benefits below what the federal government now provides? What will happen if more funding is needed for Medicaid? Will those dollars come from Medicare? What you are doing is asking the people of Kansas to buy a pig in a poke with the promise that, IF Congress agrees to provide the funding, Kansas can then recreate a system that is already in place and working. While I believe there are many things that we in Kansas do better than other states and other governments, I am not sure we should create a whole new level of bureaucracy just to see if we can do better with Medicare.

This bill will jeopardize security, choice and benefits for seniors and people with disabilities in Kansas who rely on the Medicare program for their health care coverage. This bill is scary because it carries with it impacts and consequences for all Kansans who rely on federal laws to protect their health care. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Under the Compact bill, Kansas citizens could lose many rights and protections they don’t even realize are in danger.

Thank you for the opportunity to offer our opposition to HB 2553 and we respectfully request that you oppose this bill.

Respectfully,

David Wilson

Much was written in the media about this bill, including this article in the Wichita Eagle

On Thursday, February 20, the House Federal and State Affairs Committee approved the bill which now moves on the full House for consideration.

For more information, visit Kansas Legislature