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Brownback Signs Bill In Attempt To Distance Kansas From Affordable Care Act

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill Wednesday morning that will join the state with others attempting to sever ties with the federal Affordable Care Act legislation.

With the approval of House Bill 2553, Kansas joins the Health Care Compact, a coalition of states seeking exemption from federal health care rules, while retaining federal health funding. The Compact will need to be approved by the U.S. Legislature.

Brownback stated the Compact would allow states to preserve Medicare.

The AARP urged the governor to veto the measure over uncertainty about how the state would manage Medicaid.

Several health care organizations as well as the Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, Sandy Praeger, have also urged a veto.

As a health care reporter, I aim to empower my audience to take steps to improve health care and make informed decisions as consumers and voters. I tell human stories augmented with research and data to explain how our health care system works and sometimes fails us. Email me at alexs@kcur.org.
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