Medicaid expansion dominated the conversation between Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, community and Geary Community Hospital on Wednesday. The expansion could provided much needed financial support to Geary Community Hospital, but the issue has been tied up in the Kansas Senate by the leadership, preventing debate on the measure up to this point. The Kansas House approved medicaid expansion.

During a discussion at Geary Community Hospital, Rogers said if medicaid expansion is approved it would mean an additional $1.7 million in annual revenue for GCH, serve 944 additional Geary County residents, create 25 jobs and would provide an approximate additional $6.3 million in healthcare spending in the county. “I’ve not had a single hospital board or staff that have said they don’t want to do it. They really see the impact.”

Rogers, who has visited with hospital issues across the state on this issue. He described it as a nonpartisan issue. “I’ve had Republicans and Democrats alike at these meetings and these events. For rural communities they know it’s vital to their long term survival.” Rogers says it will not save a rural hospital but will give them the ability to pay down debt, recruit additional doctors and medical professionals and expanding or replacing equipment.

Junction City Mayor and Dr. Pat Landes stated that medicaid expansion will give hospitals a lifeline and keep them vibrant.

Rogers said the governor’s office is encouraging people to contact their legislator ( senator ) to encourage to vote to get the matter out of committee and put it on the Senate floor for debate. He said Senate leaders should be called to encourage them to schedule a vote so their can be a debate.