Governor-elect Laura Kelly says she wants to insure all low-income Kansas families have access to coverage, but conservative lawmakers have been hesitant to sign up for the expansion citing high costs and arguing that it amounts to a hand out.

“We have left three billion dollars back in Washington D.C. taxpayer money. that should have been coming back here to Kansas to help our people,” said Kelly.

Kelly says she will look at Louisiana’s current plan when writing her own.

“Within the first year they actually saw $317 million cost savings. they also created 19,000 new jobs so that’s certainly a model I would like to follow,” said Kelly.

The Louisiana plan created jobs as more people look for health services and got healthy enough to work. It cut the uninsured rate in half in two years.

One of the sticking points was whether those receiving Medicaid had to have a job. Lawmakers there found a compromise requiring people to be working toward finding a job.

Not everyone who needs Medicaid has the option of getting it in Kansas, largely due to income or age restrictions. Medicaid provides health coverage for lower-income and disabled Americans, including 377,000 in Kansas, and is paid for jointly states and the federal government.

Kelly says she is confident with a little collaboration from the legislature, she will be able to get the plan passed.

Take an in-depth look at Louisiana’s Medicaid program.

