Kansas hospitals urge congressional delegation to restore health care tax credits

BY: SHERMAN SMITH

Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Kansas hospital leaders sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation urging members to extend premium tax credits for those who receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.

Republicans in Congress, including the state's two senators and three of the four House members, stripped the tax credits from low-income families as part of a tax and spending bill earlier this year. As the federal government approaches a possible shutdown next week, Democrats are refusing to support a short-term spending plan unless Republicans make the tax credits permanent.

Health care providers say the loss of tax credits will especially hurt families and hospitals in rural parts of the state.

"The reality is that for a rural hospital like ours, every dollar counts," said Preston Sayers, CEO of Kingman Healthcare Center. "A failure to extend the tax credits will cause Kansans to lose their coverage, and they often won't qualify for Medicaid. This will lead to a surge in uncompensated care and make it even more difficult to keep our doors open and provide the care our communities depend on."

More than 160,000 Kansans benefit from the tax credits that are expected to expire. They can expect to see a 77% increase in premiums.

That means a hike of $2,500 per year for a family earning $64,000 per year, or $18,000 for a 60-year-old couple making $82,800 per year, according to a news release from Ascension Via Christi, which operates hospitals in Wichita.

"As health care providers on the front lines of patient care, we know firsthand the devastating impact that a loss of affordable coverage would have on our communities," said Kevin Strecker, CEO of Ascension Via Christi. "This is a direct threat to the financial well-being of Kansas families and the stability of our health care system, particularly our rural hospitals, which serve as a lifeline for their communities."

In the letter sent Thursday to all six members of the state's congressional delegation, the hospital leaders said as Kansans lose coverage, hospitals will face rising costs from uncompensated care. The letter was sent to Republican Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, and Republican Reps. Derek Schmidt, Ron Estes and Tracey Mann.

It was signed by leaders of Ascension Via Christi, Caldwell Regional Medical Center, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Greenwood County Hospital, Hillsboro Community Hospital, Kingman Healthcare Center, NMC Health in Newton, Patterson Health Center in Anthony, Salina Regional Health Center and Wesley Healthcare.

"Allowing the premium tax cuts to expire will directly affect our ability as a rural health care provider to care for the community where we live, work and serve," said Vallerie Gleason, President and CEO of NMC Health. "I urge our Kansas congressional delegation, who care deeply about rural Kansas and rural hospitals, to support extensions of the premium tax cuts."