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New Medicaid Rules Create Backlog in Kansas

By Kelley Weiss

Kansas City, MO – In July, a new federal policy went into effect requiring Medicaid participants to prove their identity and citizenship. The requirement is intended to prevent illegal immigrants from fraudulently registering for the program, but in Kansas, it's created a backlog, leading to a seven percent drop in Medicaid enrollment. And many people who are citizens are going without health coverage while they wait for their applications to be cleared. State officials say the new federal guidelines are creating much more work without any more money or manpower. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius says the new policy could cost the state millions of dollars.

KCUR health reporter Kelley Weiss talks with Andy Allison, deputy director of the Kansas Health Policy Authority.

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