State legislators received 1,000 postcards earlier this month from Kansas residents who are uninsured or underinsured. They depend on safety net clinics for medical care, and those clinics receive significant state funding.

They hope that continues.

One postcard from an expectant mother said, “I am a wife who is expecting. My husband has no job. We rely on this clinic. …”

Another client commented, “Since 2009 I have been a patient at the clinic. This was the only facility that welcomed me after I lost my job and insurance. Having numerous medical conditions, I cannot express the wonderful care and treatment that I have received.”

The postcards were delivered by the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved as part of “Cover the Uninsured Week.”

There are 40 safety net clinics in Kansas, and they receive just more than $7 million in state funding. They care for 200,000 patients. More than half of the patients are uninsured, and 94 percent have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s $44,000 for a family of four.

Three clinics in Lawrence serve Douglas County residents. They are:

• Health Care Access, 330 Maine. It receives about $180,000 in state funding, which is 40 percent of its budget. Last year, it served 1,431 patients. It sent 100 postcards.
• Heartland Medical Clinic, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 100. It receives about $100,000 in state funding, which is 25 percent of its budget. Last year, it served 1,102 patients. It sent 80 postcards.
• Douglas County Dental Clinic, 316 Maine. It receives about $51,000 in state funding, which is 7 percent of its budget. Last year, it served 1,296 clients. It sent 15 postcards.