What is managed care?
Similar to the term casserole, “managed care” can
be defined in numerous ways and is a loose term to capture a number of
ingredients! According to the US
National Library of Medicine, “managed care” is a system of health insurance
plans that contract with care providers and medical facilities to provide care
for members at reduced costs. The
providers of care make up the insurance plan’s network.
In November, Governor Brownback unveiled a “managed
care” plan to implement sweeping changes to how Medicaid services are delivered
and reimbursed in Kansas. This plan
calls for the 'outsourcing' of all Medicaid funds in Kansas - nearly $3 billion
dollars - to out-of-state, for-profit insurance companies..
How does managed care affect individuals with DD?
With this proposal, long-term care services for
persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities -- the HCBS waiver -- will be under the
control of these insurance companies.
While these companies may have experience in managing medical services,
they have little or no knowledge or experience regarding long-term care
services for those with significant developmental disabilities. Most states across the country have excluded,
or 'carved out', long-term care services for persons with developmental
disabilities from their managed care models. Only four states have 'carved in'
DD long-term care services. None of the DD service systems in those states are
comparable to Kansas.
The Administration is racing to implement these
sweeping changes without stopping to consider the potential negative impacts to
our state's most vulnerable citizens. The impacts? A managed care system that
may separate persons with developmental disabilities from the case managers and
direct support professionals they've come to trust, and a service system that
will be controlled by private, for-profit insurance companies replacing the
direct community/State partnership that currently exists.
How can I help?
Please take a moment to ask Governor Brownback to
exclude DD long-term care services from his managed care model. Please help us preserve the half-century of
partnership and collaboration between Governors, Legislators and concerned members
of Kansas communities that built this strong, quality-focused system of
supports for Kansans with developmental disabilities.
Email the governor today through the Invisible
Kansans website:
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