KanCare plan set
Gov.
Recommendations for adjusting KanCare will undergo a 30-day public comment period and must be approved by the federal government before introduced to low-income elderly people, individuals with disabilities and children in poor families on
Brownback handed off management of the state's Medicaid system serving 400,000 people to three private insurance companies in 2013, inspiring years of debate about health policy, personal outcomes, lack of oversight and cost savings.
Under the new proposal, some adults enrolled in Medicaid would be subject to work rules that exist for those getting cash welfare assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Restrictions imposed by state lawmakers on TANF recipients cut enrollment by thousands of people.
"TANF has got 40,000 people off welfare and into employment," said
The 20-hours-per-week work requirement would apply to able-bodied adults in Medicaid with children older than 6 years of age. Excluded from the work edict would be people in state hospitals or long-term care, pregnant women, children and individuals in home- and community-based services programs directed at intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, serious emotional disturbances, frail elderly and traumatic brain injury.
If the administration of President
"A work requirement is viewed as illegal. It's in conflict with federal law," Jordan said. "There is one goal of work requirements. It's to reduce access to services."
KDADS Secretary
"In the long run," Keck said, "we believe it will lower costs."
The Brownback administration implemented KanCare in 2013. State officials said the reform made it possible to bend the cost curve in a
Mosier said the new model would emphasize pilot programs to improve placement of foster children, noting one child in
Public comment forums are scheduled
Advocates for the disabled complain that operation of KanCare by three managed-care organizations has been plagued by lack of government oversight and that the administration's opening salvo didn't suggest a change in tone.
"The devil's in the details," said
The proposed new KanCare plan can be reviewed on the KanCare website at www.KanCare.ks.gov. It will build on the original KanCare formula that simplified program offerings and will improve quality of care, said Lt. Gov.
"KanCare 2.0 builds on the successes we've had in the past in order to continue serving our most vulnerable citizens, assisting them with services that benefit their physical health and improve their quality of life," he said.
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