The Kansas Medicaid system will soon undergo major changes. Governor Sam Brownback's office announced Medicaid reform Tuesday, naming the new program KanCare. The changes are not supposed to reduce the number of people receiving services. Right now, 350,000 Kansasns depend on Medicaid for medical care.
The new program, KanCare is supposed to be a one stop shop for users. The goal is to give Kansans a health home so they can work with doctors on all of their medical issues instead of just piece by piece. Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, who's a surgeon and former state senator helped create the new system.
"KanCare will improve coordination of care and services to achieve better outcomes and long-term savings without reducing benefits or eligibility, while safeguarding reimbursement for providers. As part of this Medicaid reform, the Governor also is proposing a realignment of state agencies to more efficiently administer the newly integrated KanCare, and focus an agency solely on services for children and families. "Our goal is improving care and the experience for Kansans. The new system will achieve cost savings through improving outcomes for needy Kansans," Lt. Governor Colyer said. “Serving the needs of the whole person and as well as ensuring long term fiscal sustainability are the principles this plan is built upon.”
The realignment impacts three agencies. The Kansas Department of Health and Enviornment will remain the manager of the KanCare program. The Department of Aging will be renamed the Department of Aging and Human Services. It will be a one stop shop for all long term care options, whether you're talking about the elderly or a young person with mental illness. And SRS will be renamed the Department of Children and Families. It's focus will be on family welfare and children in the KanCare program.
The Lt. Governor would not say at this time whether the department changes will result in layoffs. He says they will be working on the issue for the next few months, determining how the changes will happen. But it is expected to save the state money. He says the Mediciad changes could save the state $853 million over the next five years.
The state plans to put out a request for proposals for three state contracts to run the KanCare program. The hope is that three companies providing the services will create financial competition.
The changes are being proposed as a way to deal with rising costs. Medicaid costs have risen 7.5% each year and the governor says that's not financially sustainable. Meetings were held all over the state on the issue and the public gave 2,000 ideas and comments to help shape the new plan.
