Kansas Candidate Questionnaire

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State Gubernatorial

  • Cindy Holscher (D)
  • Ty Masterson (R)
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Access to Cancer Care

Families across the country are feeling squeezed by rising healthcare and insurance costs.  Access to affordable, comprehensive health care can determine whether you live or die from cancer. 82% of likely voters in Kansas indicate that it is extremely (51%) or very (31%) important to them that all Americans, no matter what health insurance they have, should have access to cancer screening and treatment that is close to home and affordable. Medicaid provides a vital safety net for approximately one in five adults newly diagnosed with cancer and has historically been associated with improvements in cancer outcomes. Will you oppose policies that further reduce Medicaid eligibility for Kansans or create administrative barriers, and support policies that ensure timely access to cancer screening and treatment?

Cindy Holscher

Yes

Kansans across the state work hard and deserve quality care and benefits. I will protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and work to ensure that no matter who you are or where you come from, you have the support to live a good life, stay healthy, and retire with dignity. Every family in Kansas deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. No parent should have to choose between groceries and a doctor visit for their child. For years in the legislature, I have fought for Medicaid expansion because it is good for Kansans. And now, politicians in Washington have made dangerous cuts to Medicaid and Social Security that will hurt Kansas families, shutter even more rural hospitals, and kick thousands of Kansans off their health care.

Ty Masterson

I will oppose taking KanCare from people who cannot work—the disabled, children, pregnant women, and patients who are medically frail or in active treatment. I support preserving Medicaid for those it was intended to help.

I support making evidence-based cancer screening affordable so Kansans can catch cancer early. I want people to get recommended tests without cost standing in the way, and I will look at practical ways to do that. Follow-up testing should be accessible too, but I want to be careful that we do not raise premiums for everyone in the process. My goal is early detection and timely care, not a one-size-fits-all mandate.

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Access to Cancer Screening and Early Detection

Early detection of cancer through screening reduces deaths from cancer, improving patient outcomes and lowering health care costs. However, not all Kansans have consistent access to no-cost cancer screenings, including the follow-up testing required, where appropriate.  Will you support policies that eliminate cost-sharing, including deductibles and co-pays, for evidence-based cancer screening and follow-up diagnostic testing so Kansans can access lifesaving early detection?

Cindy Holscher

Yes

We must do more to ensure every Kansan has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including screening for serious conditions such as cancer. Early, reliable, evidence-based screenings save lives, improve health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. As Governor, expanding access to these essential preventive services will be a priority of my administration.

Ty Masterson

Early detection saves lives, and I want recommended cancer screenings to be within reach for Kansans. Many recommended cancer screenings are already covered with no copay under current rules. I support that, because early detection saves lives and cost should not be why someone skips a proven test.

I am cautious about a blanket ban on copays and deductibles for every screening and follow-up test. That kind of one-size-fits-all rule or mandate often shows up later as higher premiums for everyone, which are already too high. My approach is to keep proven screening affordable, help people who truly cannot pay, and make sure an abnormal result does not leave someone stuck, without turning insurance into prepaid care for every test.

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Medical Debt

People with cancer may face crippling medical debt after their treatment, which not only impacts patients’ and families’ financial stability, but their mental health and quality of life. Patients with medical debt are more likely to delay or skip care for fear of costs and adding to their debt. Will you support legislation that prevents patients from incurring medical debt and reduces the burden of medical debt on patients and their families?

Cindy Holscher

Yes

Too many Kansans are burdened by medical debt, with serious consequences for families seeking the care they need. We must reduce barriers to affordable, high-quality healthcare and address the financial strain medical costs place on Kansas families. As Governor, I will support smart, effective policies that reduce medical debt and prevent Kansans from being forced into financial hardship simply because they needed medical care.

Ty Masterson

Medical debt is real, especially after cancer. I oppose predatory collection without supporting legislation that leads to price controls or shifting unpaid bills onto other patients and taxpayers. We should limit abusive practices: surprise bills, aggressive garnishments, and junk fees, because we should distinguish between medical debt and typical consumer debt. We can encourage providers to work with consumers on income-based debt-retirement plans, ensuring the rate charged is not inflated, and other avenues that help people pay.

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Tobacco Prevention Funding

Tobacco companies continue to market addictive products, including vapes and nicotine pouches, and put our kids at risk for a lifetime of addiction. Now more than ever, we need elected officials to support policies that protect the health of our kids, even if this means tobacco companies make less money. Smoking causes more than 30% (30.4%) of all cancer deaths in Kansas. Will you protect, increase, and sustain funding at $2.5 million annually for life-saving tobacco prevention and cessation programs in Kansas?

Cindy Holscher

Yes

Every Kansas child should be free from exploitation and predatory marketing tactics, especially when those tactics carry with them serious risk of life-long harm. Addiction is a perpetual problem, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more to fight it, especially for younger members of our population. And with such dire consequences to health, more must be done by policymakers. If elected, the health and safety of our people will always take precedence over the profitability of our businesses.

Ty Masterson

It's in the state's interest - and I support this - to discourage the use of tobacco through programs that are proven to work, particularly for children. To that end, I will review prevention and cessation on their results, based on what actually reduces youth use and helps people stop, and recommend a funding level commensurate with those successful programs.

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Disclaimer: This questionnaire is for informational and educational purposes only and is intended to educate voters on candidates’ stances on issues relevant to our organization’s mission. ACS CAN is strictly nonpartisan and does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views expressed in these responses are solely those of the candidates and do not reflect the views or positions of ACS CAN.