Kansas Legislators Quibble about Who Should Get Health Care Assistance

House and Senate negotiators are trying to reach a compromise on health care legislation. The two chambers disagree about which uninsured Kansans should get state assistance.

The House bill provides a year’s worth of state aid to help poor parents buy private insurance, known as premium assistance. The Senate bill expands a state health insurance program that depends on federal funds to cover children’s medical expenses.

During its second day of negotiating Wednesday, the House team proposed delaying premium assistance by one year. Senate negotiators said they would respond.

Republican Brenda Landwehr, the lead House negotiator, said she was confident a compromise can be reached.