Below is a letter to the editor from Ron Pasmore, President/CEO Ketch, Inc. in Wichita. This letter was published in The Wichita Eagle today:
No evidence
Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer implied that lower life expectancy for individuals with developmental disabilities is somehow a result of poor access to and coordination of health care services (“Focus on the best results,” Feb. 12 Opinion). In fact, life expectancy for those with developmental disabilities is related to the effects of their disabilities.
Life expectancy has dramatically increased over time. For example, the average life expectancy for those with Down syndrome has doubled since 1983.
Colyer also stated that the greatest growth in Medicaid costs was for people with disabilities. But the University of Minnesota reported a decline in per-person spending for home- and community-based services in Kansas of 18 percent between 1993 and 2009.
Regardless of the medical needs cited, to my knowledge no one has questioned the administration’s desire to place medical services paid by Medicaid under managed care. What has families and advocates so upset is the inclusion of nonmedical residential and day supports provided through the home- and community-based services waiver.
I keep searching for evidence from around the country that managed care will be of positive benefit for the needs of people with developmental disabilities. I have yet to find any.
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2012/02/19/2220366/letters-to-the-editor-on-hotel.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
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