Medicaid Expansion Likely Dead In The Water After Narrow Kansas Senate Vote Dismisses Efforts To Put Issue On Calendar

Topeka Capital Journal: Kansas Senate Narrowly Dismisses Effort To Put Medicaid Expansion In Play
The Kansas Senate narrowly shot down an attempt Wednesday to put Medicaid expansion in play, striking a blow to one of the best last chances for expansion supporters who hope to pass a plan this session. Lawmakers returned to action after a three-week hiatus and confronted a maneuver from Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, who forced lawmakers to take action on legislation that previously passed the House. Hensley’s motion fell one vote shy of the 24 votes needed to pull the bill out of committee. (Smith, 5/1)

Kansas City Star: Kansas Senate Denied Medicaid Expansion Debate By One Vote
Democrats tried to use a procedural motion to override Senate leaders and keep expansion alive in the waning days of the legislative session. But the 40-member chamber needed 24 votes and the motion failed 23-13 after Senate majority leader Jim Denning, a Republican from Overland Park, voted “pass” rather than “aye” or “nay.” “I’m not saying no,” Denning said. “I’m saying this policy isn’t ready.” (Marso and Shorman, 5/1)

POLITICO Pro: Kansas Senate Defeats Medicaid Expansion Plan
“I understand the pressure that my colleagues are under and I’m thankful that we will be able to review this bill in the interim and look at changes that the federal government is making in applications and waivers, and put out a bill that Kansans can afford,” said state Senate President Susan Wagle, who opposes expansion. (Pradhan, 5/1)

KCUR: Kansas Medicaid Expansion Fails To Get A Vote, But Supporters Threaten Budget To Force One 
Sen. Barbara Bollier, a former Republican who switched to the Democratic Party before the start of the session, said the refusal by Republican leaders to allow a vote on expansion “is abhorrent to me and should be to the entire state.” “Kansans have lost today,” she said. (McLean, 5/1)

Bangor (Maine) Daily News/Maine Public: Expanded Medicaid Has Increased Access To Opioid Treatment, But Waitlists Have Ballooned
When Janet Mills ran for governor, she promised to expand Medicaid to help combat the opioid crisis. Her campaign estimated that 25,000 Mainers couldn’t access treatment for substance use disorder either because of a lack of capacity or a lack of insurance. Now, four months into expansion, providers say they’re seeing a dramatic increase in access, but many are concerned Maine doesn’t have the capacity to meet the pent up demand. (Wight, 5/1)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP Plans To Strip Medicaid Expansion, Marijuana From Evers Budget
Republican lawmakers plan to vote next week to remove the pillars of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' state budget — including his plans to expand health care under the Affordable Care Act, establish nonpartisan redistricting, legalize medical marijuana, cap enrollment in voucher schools and provide driver's licenses to people who are here illegally. Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills and Rep. John Nygren of Marinette, who lead the GOP-controlled budget-writing committee, said Wednesday they also would seek to remove Evers' plan to increase the minimum wage and his proposal to eliminate the state's right-to-work law, which bans labor contracts that require workers to pay union fees. (Beck and Marley, 5/1)

Meanwhile —

Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Ask Justice Department To Stop Centene-WellCare Merger
The American Hospital Association urged the Trump administration on Wednesday to halt Centene's $17.3 billion acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, claiming it will reduce competition in Medicaid managed-care and Medicare Advantage services. Centene and WellCare are both major players in government-sponsored health plans, with both having a presence in Medicaid and on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges. All told the two insurers would cover nearly 22 million people in Medicare, Medicaid and the exchanges. (King, 5/1)