Susan Wagle on Health Care

Unconstitutional to ban church gatherings for coronavirus

Kelly announced she was removing exemptions for churches and funerals from a statewide order that limits gatherings of more than 10 individuals. The Legislative Coordinating Council then voted 5-2 along party lines to rescind the governor's order. The action invited confusion about whether there is no longer a statewide ban on any kind of large public gathering.

Governors in 44 states have imposed similar restrictions on church attendance in the face of a deadly and contagious disease. But Republicans in Kansas complained that Kelly had overstepped her authority by restricting religious gatherings. "It appears to be out of line, extreme and clearly in violation, a blatant violation, of our fundamental rights," said Senate president Susan Wagle, a Republican from Wichita.

Bars Medicaid expansion without abortion restrictions

Expanding Medicaid will break our back with debt

Wagle was open to the idea of expansion in the past based on her family's own battles with cancer, but she's firmly set against it now because of concerns about the long-term costs. "It's going to break our back," Wagle said. "Health care is the primary driver of the debt at the federal level. And states are complaining to me that have passed expansion that they absolutely can't afford it. So we have to reform the system."

Medicaid expansion is socialism

Kelly, who has made expansion her signature issue, said in the expansion debate the term "study" has come to mean "stall."

[Under Medicaid expansion], the federal government will pay for 90% of the cost. For a family of four, that's $35,535 a year. The state's share of the cost of expansion has been estimated between $34 million and $47 million a year.

Insurers to provide real-time information of benefits

Supporting statement in Missouri Medicine: High deductible plans and high co-insurance plans now dominate both the private sector plans and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Exchange plans.˙Knowing the out of pocket costs of non-emergency health care services is part of the informed decision process between a physician and patient. Patients need to know the financial obligation they will incur as well as being able to have time and ability to satisfy it. Knowing what out of pocket expenses will be due is important in the rapidly changing health care environment.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 38-2-0 on 4/2/14; State Sen. Wagle voted YES; Passed House 97-27-1 on 5/2; Signed by Gov. Brownback on 5/12