"Hundreds Take Part in Kansas Medicaid Meeting"

From Fox 4 News Kansas City:
"Hundreds Take Part in Kansas Medicaid Meeting"

"LENEXA, Kan. — Organizers were expecting about 50 people but more than 200 people showed up on Wednesday to talk about the planned changed in Kansas Medicaid.

Many were worried the change might mean a change of case workers or counselors, and a general drop in quality.

“I can appreciate saving money, but what I can’t appreciate is putting the price of quality in that equation, not quantity not quality and I think with managed care they talk about quantity not quality,” said Kenn Ashcraft who is worried about the pending changes.

Lieutenant Gov. Jeff Colyer’s office sent FOX 4 a statement about KanCare which is the name Medicaid would be changed to. The state hopes to have the new system in place by January of 2013.

Statement from Lieutenant Gov. Jeff Colyer:

“The Kansas Department on Aging has been in contact with the Johnson County Developmental Supports board as recently as last Friday about KanCare and we are very interested to hear their consumers’ feedback. Secretary Sullivan, Secretary Moser and Secretary Siedlecki along with Lieutenant Governor Colyer have been traveling throughout the state since June listening to the input of hundreds of Kansans about Medicaid reform, and KanCare comes from that long input process.

The intellectual/developmental disability population will benefit greatly from KanCare and the care coordination model it proposes. Many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have multiple chronic conditions, and we know from the Medicaid Transformation Grant that this population’s health care is now fragmented, poorly coordinated and did not consistently receive recommended health screenings for breast, cervical or colorectal cancer (Kansas Medicaid Transformation Grant Final Report, June 2010).

During a study period from November 2007 to October 2008 only 55% of adults with an intellectual/developmental disability had an HbA1C test in a one-year period. This test assesses how well blood sugar levels are being managed and is an established clinical standard for diabetes care. National HbA1C testing rates in a similar period for all Medicaid beneficiaries were 72%. In this same study it was found that cholesterol checks were done on only half of the adults with an intellectual/developmental disability. These basic screening tools were not used, yet 93% of the individuals studied had at least one visit with a primary care provider.

While talking to Kansans we found the Community Developmental Disability Organizations were an important part of what has been working in the Kansas Medicaid system. This is why the KanCare RFP preserves the unique statutory role of the CDDOs to “(d)irectly or by subcontract, serve as the single point of application or referral for services, and assist all persons with a developmental disability to have access to and an opportunity to participate in community services….” (K.A.R. 30-64-27).

KanCare bidders will bring their expertise at identifying complex needs of individuals and coordinating and integrating their care to improve health outcomes.  Such expertise includes:

*    Care coordination and management

*    Wellness and prevention programs

*    Member education in use of health care and managing chronic conditions

*    Incentive programs to engage members in their own health and wellness

The state Medicaid program will only see savings once care coordination is truly happening in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We know these individuals make up less than 15% of the population of the aged and disabled Medicaid group, but account for almost 40% of the spending for the entire group.

KanCare companies will not arbitrarily cut services or provider rates, rather the goal is to coordinate all aspects of an individual’s health care and social service needs to bend the cost curve down over time. Kansas’ intent is for KanCare to bring together the clinical and community providers who serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a manner that promotes coordination and integration of care to achieve better health outcomes and help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve long and productive lives.”"