Push Day: Post Event Pontifications

A sea of red-clad DD advocates flooded the South lawn of the Capitol on Wednesday.  It was a day so powerful and so poignant that some of the InterHab staff are still wearing their red (in the form of sun burns) as we reflect on our annual Push Day event.  InterHab staffers agree that this year’s event seemed to have all the elements of success and it got us thinking…what makes Push Day successful?

Participation

We had an outstanding turnout this year!  Bus-loads from across the entire state brought a combined total of more than 800 participants.

Enthusiasm

While it would certainly be understandable that after many months of intense efforts (letter writing, e-mail sending, forum-holding, event-hosting, etc.), advocates might feel more than frustrated, even angry.  But ralliers set their frustrations aside and let the camaraderie of the day set the tone.  They were confident, consistent, and courteous – exactly the type of advocacy needed for the day.

Action

The combined effort of simply being there was enough to send a strong message to legislators and the Governor, but your participation in the “Real People Real Mementos” activity and your efforts to visit legislators inside the Capitol created a powerful reality that simply couldn’t be ignored.

Media

A consistent spotlight on this issue throughout the year (created by you) culminated in thorough media coverage for Push Day.  Radio, television and print from a variety of regions covered our event.  For a highlight of news coverage, please visit the InterHab facebook page.

Legislator Attendance

We had a record number of legislators come out to support rally participants!  Senator Laura Kelly, Senator Dick Kelsey, and Representative Jim Ward all came to address and encourage advocates.   Several more legislators came to join the crowd and visit constituents.

YOU!

There are a number of elements that create a great experience on Push Day (in fact, the element of weather is a pretty big one).  But it’s clear that the number one contributor to our combined success is YOU!  YOU, the person who coordinates the bus rides, you who ensures everyone is wearing red, you who came as staff support for persons with disabilities, and you the person who wants to stick up for what is right for the Kansas DD system.

So thank you.  Thank you to InterHab leaders who shepherded this event and empowered people to participate.  Thank you to the volunteers who helped us run Push Day.  And thank you to every single person with disabilities, every staff person, and every family member who participated in Push Day!

Brownback Administration Submits form Application to Overhaul Medicaid

This afternoon Governor Brownback's office will host a news conference announcing their submission for a special 1115 Waiver from CMS (the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).  Approval from CMS is required for the Administration to implement KanCare - a proposal to turnover Kansas Medicaid services to private, out-of-state, for-profit insurance companies.  Below are articles with further details...

Provided by KHI News 

Wichita Eagle
"Kansas seeks Medicaid waiver from feds"
April 27, 2012

KHI News Service
"KanCare waiver application completed: Medicaid 1115 waiver application submitted for federal review"
April 27, 2012

Brownback Administration Supports DD Long Term Care and Waiver Postponement

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2012

For more information:
Sherriene Jones-Sontag
785.368.7138
media@ks.gov

Brownback Administration Supports DD Long Term Care
and Waiver Postponement

Topeka – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D. announced today that their administration endorses a proposal by members of the House and Senate as well as advocates of the developmental disability community to postpone the inclusion of waiver services for individuals with developmental disabilities into KanCare until January 1, 2014 and to allow voluntary pilot programs.

Gov. Brownback said they recognize the uncertainty many still feel about the coming changes in the state’s Medicaid system. 

“Dr. Colyer and I are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Kansans.  We are confident the new KanCare system will work for the greater good of those who depend upon Medicaid.  We believe that allowing another year of discussion and input from the developmental disability community will make them comfortable with the program and allow us to craft solutions to the concerns they’re expressing,” Brownback said.

 Lt. Gov. Colyer said the administration feels strongly the KanCare reforms will work to improve the health and social outcomes for our most vulnerable Kansans and in the long run will help the state address the waiting lists for waiver services.

“We have heard the concerns expressed by family members of developmentally disabled individuals about the coming reforms and the pace of the change in particular. We believe this staggered implementation will allow for more conversations, more public input, and a more effective implementation for persons utilizing developmental disability waiver services,” Colyer said.

Gov. Brownback and Dr. Colyer said they look forward to working with state lawmakers and community partners to implement all other provisions of KanCare, including medical and behavioral health services for the developmentally disabled, on the original timeline slated for launch on January 1, 2013.

Great Summary: KanCare Debate on House Floor

Dion Leffler of the Wichita Eagle wrote a fantastic summary of the terse debate held on the floor of the House last week regarding the carve out of long-term care DD services from KanCare:

Reps. Ward, Landwehr trade shots over managed care for developmentally disabled

Ward

Landwehr

A proposal to except developmental disability care from the governor’s Medicaid reform effort led to a tense exchange — and an admonition from the speaker of the House — for two of Wichita’s most prominent lawmakers.

The exchange came after Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita, and Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, tangled over an attempt by Ward to amend a bill to take developmental disabilities out of Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to cap the costs of the state’s Medicaid services programs.

Brownback is in the process of implementing a plan to shift services to managed-care plans administered by for-profit insurance companies, to be called KanCare.

Ward strongly criticized Landwehr, the chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee, for delaying consideration of the exception. At one point, he urged the House to “keep your big-boy pants on, today’s the day.”

But as it turned out, it wasn’t the day.

Landwehr and her allies succeeded in keeping Ward’s amendment from coming to a floor vote by getting the underlying bill sent back to committee on a 69-54 vote.

 “I would be happy to have two or three weeks of hearings on this (disabilities) issue because it’s major,” Landwehr said. “I understand these budgets, I actually know some of these kids as friends and family and neighbors that are receiving these services. I talk to the parents. To make a policy change like this on the floor is not doing a service to them.”

Ward said after the meeting that the bill was sent to the Appropriations Committee to kill it, but he plans to bring it up again when the Legislature reconvenes for its wrap-up session late next month.

Providers, parents and others in the developmental disabilities community have been lobbying for an exemption from KanCare, out of concern that the change would be too disruptive to mentally fragile individuals receiving home- and community-based services.

Read more...