(Jan. 20, 2025) – Today, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, chaired by Senator Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora), heard from Kansas Inspector General Steven Anderson on recent reports and findings in Kansas.
The Inspector General highlighted that nine full-time employees have been requested but not funded for ongoing audits. The committee heard about the eligibility of pregnant women and pharmacy dispensing fees, and the home and community-based services audit.
Committee members asked questions about the following:
- Maternal health coverage eligibility related to pregnancy, the process to get coverage and instances of coverage with no live births
- Access of using Medicaid benefits for over-the-counter medications
- Software improvements
- Determinations for home and community-based services
- Differences in federal and state forms
- Childcare payments and instances of fraud
- If a reward for plaintiffs could increase results
- Where most complaints come from and how cases are transferred to the Office of Inspector General
- Possible federal support in the future
- Vendor liability on EBT cards
The committee will meet again tomorrow to hear from the Office of Child Advocate and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.