Kansas Senate passes Farm Bureau health-plan bill, dodges Medicaid expansion

A bid to force debate on Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for Medicaid expansion Wednesday was blocked on procedural grounds ahead of Kansas Senate votes advancing a bill granting Kansas Farm Bureau the exclusive opportunity to offer a basic health benefit plan not subject to standard medical insurance policies. Supporters of the legislation contended Farm Bureau could provide health coverage — technically, not insurance — to an estimated 42,000 members of the organization at rates 30 percent lower than premiums of other policies on the market.Critics argued the bill would enable Farm Bureau to market a plan sidestepping routine state and federal requirements, subject people to substandard medical care and divide families by excluding individuals with pre-existing conditions.“This plan gives options to people,” said Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican who chairs the Senate’s insurance committee. “Give them the service they need. Drive competition to lower insurance in this state. I think this is going to save and help our rural communities.”He said rejection of Senate Bill 32 would punish healthy people living in areas of the state without access to affordable medical insurance coverage. Nothing in the bill precluded a person living in the heart of a city from paying the $50 annual fee to join Farm Bureau and sign a health contract with the nonprofit agriculture organization.The Senate voted 28-11 on final action to forward the bill to the House.