KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly met with President Donald Trump to discuss how Kansas has responded to the coronavirus and the effects the pandemic has had on the state Wednesday.
The governor sat down for a one-on-one interview with 41 Action News Reporter Ariel Rothfield Tuesday ahead of her Wednesday trip to Washington D.C.
“Any opportunity to tell Kansas’ story and to make the direct ask of the president of the United States for the kind of federal support we need to get us through this, and to help us grow our economy again, is a terrific opportunity in and of itself,” Kelly said.
Kansas faces a significant budget shortfall because of the economic hardships the pandemic has caused. Last month, the state released data showing a projected shortfall of more than $650 million.
Although Kansas received aid from the federal government to help pay for expenses related to the pandemic, the state cannot use the money to fill shortfalls in government revenue.
“We need help with that,” Kelly said. “There is absolutely no way Kansas or any other state can get on that road to economic recovery without backfilling some of those revenue shortfalls.”
In anticipation of Wednesday’s trip, Kelly had a conversation with White House officials on Monday. She said she spoke with First Lady Melania Trump about the need to increase federal funding for mental health services.
“Clearly, that’s an issue for us here in Kansas and was even before COVID-19,” Kelly said. “The federal government can help us by doing, perhaps increasing, their share of Medicaid. If they would ramp that up, that would go a long way in helping us provide more services for folks.”
A spokesperson with the Johnson County Mental Health Center confirmed more federal funding would help community mental health centers maintain appropriate levels of service and staffing.
“Even as the metro continues to open up, we are anticipating an increase in acute psychological needs due to the rapid changes in employment and routines, in additional to the impacts of the illness itself,” the spokesperson stated.
Although state organizations have worked to make telehealth possible for mental health services, they are reimbursed by Medicaid at a lower or no rate, which puts a revenue strain on community mental health centers.
Many private insurance companies do not cover mental health services, especially telehealth. Since Kansas did not expand Medicaid this year, there also is a significant gap between those who qualify for Medicaid and those who have private insurance.
Additional mental health support at the federal level, especially along the lines of mental health parity, would go a long way to remove barriers for individuals considering seeking professional help,” the spokesperson said.
