Governor Laura Kelly urged the Legislature to approve Medicaid expansion this year, saying the state's refusal to expand has been costly and that surrounding states have already expanded the program.

"The only reason we haven't expanded Medicaid is partisan politics," Kelly said. "In 2022, the cost to Kansas taxpayers was $68,500,000. In '23, $71,500,000. In '24, $61,800,000. And if we don't expand Medicaid this year, 2025, it will cost Kansas taxpayers another $78,300,000."

Kelly said over $280 million in state taxpayer dollars have been spent because expansion was not implemented and that roughly $7.6 billion in federal funds have been left unused. She argued those dollars could have provided property tax relief and other benefits to Kansans, and called expansion a fiscal as well as a health policy issue.

Kelly did not identify specific legislative language or a bill number in her address; she said she would reintroduce the proposal this session.