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Welcome to the first installment of our monthly legislative updates, where we work to inform you on key legislation as it progresses, stalls, or dies out. Furthermore, we work to directly tie our updates to our new policy agendas for 2023 and 2024 in Kansas and Missouri, as well as how they advance — or undermine — the strategy laid out in our purpose plan released last year.
Even though the legislative sessions in Kansas and Missouri are just getting underway, an incredible amount of activity has been taking place in Topeka and Jefferson City. With that in mind, let’s get started with discussing what’s been happening in Kansas.
People policy goal: People can easily access safe, quality, and affordable whole-person care.
In addition to this legislation, Health Forward hosted a day at the statehouse in Topeka on Jan. 26. We organized a panel to discuss community health workers in Kansas and welcomed about a dozen partner organizations as well as 10 legislators. We are advocating that Kansas takes up a state plan amendment to ensure work done by community health workers receives stable funding through Medicaid.
Power policy goal: Participation in our democracy and policymaking process improves health outcomes.
Place policy goal: Our communities are healthy place where people fully participate in the digital economy and build wealth through safe, quality, and affordable housing and homeownership.
At this point, we aren’t tracking any relevant legislation that pertains to digital equity or wealth building through homeownership. During such time when legislation is introduced, we will consult with partners and consider what our stance on the bill may be most appropriate.
Platform Policy Goal: Community health is influenced by systems, policies, and stories that promote racial equity and economic inclusion.
While these bills are some of the ones we’re most focused on, there are more included in our Kansas Bill Tracker.
Platform policy goal: Community health is influenced by systems, policies, and stories that promote racial equity and economic inclusion.
While these bills are some of the ones we’re most focused on, there are more included in our Missouri Bill Tracker.