"Not Worth the Gamble!" Rally: Great Participation!

Wendell Potter addresses the crowd

Participants filled packed the house!

Participants wore their 'Not Worth the Gamble - Carve out DD!' shirts

Over 500 attendees came to the Rally

They came by car, they came by van, they even came by the bus-load to the "Not Worth the Gamble!" Rally last Tuesday. Clad in red "Not Worth the Gamble!" t-shirts, you couldn't stop the on-pouring of more than 500 attendees filling - nearly overflowing - the ballroom of the Ramada Inn Topeka. Rally attendees were revved up and ready to make their voices and concerns about KanCare heard!

The Rally kicked off with opening remarks from InterHab Executive Director,Tom Laing; InterHab's Governmental Affairs Committee chairperson, Alice Lackey; and InterHab's Board of Directors' President, Colin McKenney. Afterward, featured speaker Wendell Potter addressed the crowd, sharing his experience as a former public relations executive for a top insurance company. He also shared skepticism in Governor Brownback's KanCare plan to overhaul Medicaid. Potter indicated that insurance companies are ultimately responsible to their shareholders and the pressure to create profits. Mr. Potter encouraged the crowd to continue their advocacy and to continue urging Kansas leaders to question the components of the KanCare plan.

With that advice in mind, participants traveled to the Capitol to share their concerns regarding KanCare. Hundreds of Rally participants filled the wings of the Capitol as they urged legislators to sign and support both the House and Senate Resolutions to delay KanCare by six months and continued to share with legislators their desire to see long-term DD services removed from KanCare.

"The Not Worth the Gamble!" Rally generated a remarkable turnout and resulted in a significant message to the Administration and to Kansas legislators from across the state. And while this event is over our fight to carve out DD long-term care remains.  So we must build on the momentum that our combined efforts have built!  Continue contacting your legislators, continue contacting the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, continue educating community members, parents and advocates and draw on the inspiration that the "Not Worth the Gamble!" Rally gives us - the reminder that together, we are stronger and together, we can be heard.