(Feb. 21, 2025) –Today, the Bob Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community-Based Services and KanCare Oversight met.
The committee first had responses from the fourth quarter of 2024 meeting from the following:
The committee also had written-only testimony from KanCare stakeholders, including:
- Kylee Childs, LeadingAge Kansas, highlighted managed care organization reconsideration delays and local pharmacy contracting issues.
- Rachelle Colombo, Kansas Medical Society, asked the legislature to direct the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to take steps to develop a second Medicaid fee schedule for MCOs for services provided within the KanCare program.
- Marissa Alcantar, Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, highlighted the need for Medicaid expansion.
- Kim Cook, Numotion, highlighted the need to reform prior authorizations for wheelchair repair.
- Tanya Dorf Brunner, Oral Health Kansas, highlighted the need for increases in Medicaid dental rates.
- Matt Fletcher, InterHab, highlighted the additional need for stakeholder engagement and conflict of interest concerns.
- JD Kemp, LifeStreams, highlighted Sunflower Health Plan's work on the Brian Injury Waiver services.
- Scott Lopez, Alliance Rehab and Medical Equipment, highlighted the Kansas Medical Assistance Program as a secondary payer, difficulty accessing the federal program, problems with the appeals process following denials, and non-contracts with HealthyBlue.
- Nicole McLain, Little Stars Therapy Services, emphasized audit practices with MCOs that create financial challenges.
- Gabrielle Meadows, Thrive Therapy of Kansas, requested coverage for community support teams services.
- And several private citizens.
The committee next heard presentations by Haely Ordoyne, long-term care ombudsman, Steven Anderson, Medicaid inspector general and Janet Williams, MindsMatter.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Christine Osterlund, deputy secretary of Agency Integration and Kansas Medicaid director, gave a presentation on quarterly updates that highlighted the following topics:
- KanCare 3.0
- KDHE Medicaid Rate Study
- Performance Metrics
- MCO Financial Review
- Eligibility Updates
Next, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services gave presentations, including the following:
- Secretary Laura Howard reviewed the legislative agenda, Home and Community-Based Services Waivers, and grants.
- Scott Brunner gave an overview of the construction of the South Central Regional Mental Health Center, which is scheduled to start this month.
- Lacey Hunter gave an overview of staffing agency oversight and federal staffing mandates.
- Andy Brown gave an overview of Behavioral Health services.
Last, the committee heard from the managed care organizations, including the following:
The committee will meet again next quarter.