Crum, Weber to lead House health, social-service committees
In the coming months, State Reps. David Crum and Brian Weber will be spending a lot of time together.
Weber, a Republican from Dodge City, today was named chair of the House Social Services Budget Committee. Crum, a Republican from Augusta, will be the committee’s vice chair.
Crum, in turn, was appointed chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee. Weber will serve as vice chair.
“I think this will make for a smooth transition,” Crum said. “Brian is a very capable person, but he’s not been on the Social Services Budget Committee before so he’ll have a lot to learn.”
Crum, first elected in 2006, has spent the past six years on both committees. He chaired the Social Services Budget Committee in 2011 and 2012.
Weber, 30, served on the Health and Human Services Committee this year, where he said he played an active role. He was first appointed to the Legislature to...read more
KanCare ombudsman hired
A Lawrence man who serves on the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities has been hired by the state to be the ombudsman for KanCare enrollees.
James Bart, 50, started the job today. He will office at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services headquarters at 503 S. Kansas Ave. in Topeka.
Bart said he has a law degree from Creighton University but had not practiced law since leaving Nebraska for Kansas about 17 years ago. He is married and the father of a 19-year-old son with developmental disabilities and three younger children.
"I'll make a serious commitment to consumers of Kansas Medicaid...read more
KanCare workforce shift hampering local agencies
Workforce shortages prompted by the overhaul of the Kansas Medicaid program are hampering operations at some social service agencies in Johnson County and elsewhere in the state, according to executives at the organizations.
Human Services Director Debbie Collins said since September, her Johnson County agency had lost three of its nine case managers that assist frail elderly Medicaid clients through the Area Agency on Aging...read more