Senate, pharmacy experience leads Schmidt to run for insurance commissioner
Schmidt, a pharmacist by trade, is running for state insurance commissioner, an office currently held by
She will face former state Sen.
Born and raised in
First elected to the
Schmidt was in
Why do you want to be insurance commissioner?
I think I have a strong background, certainly, in my pharmacy life. I get to deal with Medicare and Medicaid and commercial insurance every day. I think that's a good background to have for the regulatory position.
I think life has its challenges for everyone but I don't think insurance should be one of them. I think it's important to have a person that would advocate in that office. When I say advocate, I really mean for the individual or for the consumers, the Kansans, for the agents and for the companies, because they all have different areas where they need advocates.
The insurance commissioner also regulates the annuities industry in
We have a couple of large companies that deal with annuities, Advisors Excel in
A couple years ago the legislature moved over the
I served on the state
I would not have run against the current insurance commissioner, but he's decided to take another path. That left an open seat. This is a great time to run.
What's the biggest challenge in that office?
I think being an advocate for the people who need answers. I know I am known in the
Life has its challenges, but I don't think insurance should be one of them. If you have a fire of a flood or something that happens to you, you don't really care about how the office works, you just want the process to work.
Should
The insurance commissioner would not have a vote, certainly, in that. As chair of the public health and welfare committee, I did carry that bill on the floor and have supported Medicaid expansion. I think it's vitally important for our hospitals in
Anything else you'd like to address?
I have helped protect Medicare for seniors in the
He actually put the amendment on a bill when he was serving in the legislature that said the legislature has to approve before the governor can expand Medicaid. We're one of the few states that has that requirement. I don't believe the previous governor would have expanded Medicaid on their own, but it has taken a tool out, so even if the governor wanted to expand Medicaid, the Legislature would have to approve. I just think that's taking in important tool out that they have.
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