Friday, November 30, 2012
Power Up! Inspirational Award Winners
Power Up! The InterHab Annual Conference took place over a month ago and we're still thinking about and inspired by all the Annual Award Winners as well as the artists who created original artwork to give to award winners. Below are just a couple of the award winners nominated by Rainbows United, Inc. (special thanks to Rainbows for putting their stories online!)
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Update from KanCare Teleconference
Below is an update from KHI News Service regarding the teleconference hosted by the State yesterday afternoon:
Federal officials say they hope to act soon on KanCare waiver request
No support expressed for the proposed changes during a one-hour conference call
By Mike Shields
KHI News Service
Nov. 28, 2012
TOPEKA — The federal official in charge of reviewing 1115 Medicaid waiver requests sat in on an hour-long conference call today to hear Kansans' views on Gov. Sam Brownback's proposed Medicaid makeover plan.
Only about 20 people had time to comment but none of them expressed support for KanCare, which would move virtually all the state's 380,000 Medicaid beneficiaries into managed care plans run by three insurance companies.
Most people who called in questioned the need for KanCare and expressed concern that they or family members would lose services or their case managers. Others called for a delay, saying the program's planned Jan. 1 launch date would come too soon.
Vikki Wachino, director of the children and adults health programs group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in rare public comments about KanCare, said CMS had asked Kansas officials to organize today's call so she and other CMS officials could hear public response to the state's preparations in anticipation of an upcoming decision from CMS on Kansas' waiver request. She didn't say when the decision would come, but hinted it could be soon.
"We asked them to do that now at this time...so we can decide where we go from here, she said during the teleconference introductions. "We've spent a lot of intensive and thoughtful time with the state on their proposal and have heard from them loud and clear their desire to move on a Jan. 1 start date and we would like to make the decision soon whether that time frame is the right time frame for Kansas and whether the alternative of not moving forward on that timeframe would create transition implications of their own. So I really invite you on this call to share your thoughts and concerns."
'Listen-only mode'
Wachino said no more after her introductory remarks during which she noted that she and other CMS officials on the call were in "listen-only mode."
Kari Bruffett, director of the division of Health Care Finance at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said earlier in the day during a separate teleconference with Medicaid providers that she expected CMS to deliver a decision...read more
Federal officials say they hope to act soon on KanCare waiver request
No support expressed for the proposed changes during a one-hour conference call
By Mike Shields
KHI News Service
Nov. 28, 2012
TOPEKA — The federal official in charge of reviewing 1115 Medicaid waiver requests sat in on an hour-long conference call today to hear Kansans' views on Gov. Sam Brownback's proposed Medicaid makeover plan.
Only about 20 people had time to comment but none of them expressed support for KanCare, which would move virtually all the state's 380,000 Medicaid beneficiaries into managed care plans run by three insurance companies.
Most people who called in questioned the need for KanCare and expressed concern that they or family members would lose services or their case managers. Others called for a delay, saying the program's planned Jan. 1 launch date would come too soon.
Vikki Wachino, director of the children and adults health programs group at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in rare public comments about KanCare, said CMS had asked Kansas officials to organize today's call so she and other CMS officials could hear public response to the state's preparations in anticipation of an upcoming decision from CMS on Kansas' waiver request. She didn't say when the decision would come, but hinted it could be soon.
"We asked them to do that now at this time...so we can decide where we go from here, she said during the teleconference introductions. "We've spent a lot of intensive and thoughtful time with the state on their proposal and have heard from them loud and clear their desire to move on a Jan. 1 start date and we would like to make the decision soon whether that time frame is the right time frame for Kansas and whether the alternative of not moving forward on that timeframe would create transition implications of their own. So I really invite you on this call to share your thoughts and concerns."
'Listen-only mode'
Wachino said no more after her introductory remarks during which she noted that she and other CMS officials on the call were in "listen-only mode."
Kari Bruffett, director of the division of Health Care Finance at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said earlier in the day during a separate teleconference with Medicaid providers that she expected CMS to deliver a decision...read more
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
KanCare: Teleconference, CMS, Network Reports
Thank you to KHI News Service for these important updates...
KanCare Teleconference today @ 4pmThose interested in learning more about KanCare may call (855) 229-1643. The conference is limited to the first 500 callers. Questions and comments also may be sent to KanCare@kdheks.gov. Officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also are expected to take part.
Approval of 1115 Waiver from CMSWith a little over a month left, the State has not yet received approval from the Centers for Medicaid on the State's 1115 Waiver request.
Network AdequacyIn a related development, state officials posted on the KanCare website some "network adequacy" reports describing the managed care companies' provider networks. They said they would post additional reports as they are available.
http://www.kancare.ks.gov/download/KanCare_MCO_Network_Access.pdf
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
KanCare: November Educational Tour
Below is an update regarding November KanCare Educational Tour dates hosted by Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Please see the KanCare website below for full details including address information for each location and special assistance/accommodations requests, contact information, etc. These meetings are intended to help Medicaid beneficiaries understand the KanCare enrollment process.
http://www.kancare.ks.gov/events.htm
KanCare Educational Tour Schedule:
Monday, November 26th:
1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
Wednesday, November 28th:
1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
http://www.kancare.ks.gov/events.htm
KanCare Educational Tour Schedule:
Monday, November 26th:
1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
- Dodge City: Public Library
- Pittsburg: Homer Cole Center
- Topeka: Capitol Plaza Hotel
Tuesday, November 27th:
1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
- Garden City: Garden City Senior Center *The afternoon meeting will start at 1:30pm
- Indepencence: ICC West, Woods Family Community Center
- Olathe: Holiday Inn
Wednesday, November 28th:
1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
- Hays: Robbins Center at FHSU
- Wichita: WSU Metroplex
- Kansas City: Hilton Garden Inn
Thursday, November 29th:
1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
- Salina: Bicentennial Center
- El Dorado: Civic Center
- Emporia: Senior Center
If Medicaid enrollees cannot attend the above dates, they may register in advance to participate in a KanCare Educational webinar to be held December 14th 10am - 12pm.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
KRS Stakeholders Meetings - Schedule
the note below comes from the Kansas Rehabilitation Services a division of the KS Dept. for Children and Families
KRS Stakeholders Meetings Announced
NOTICE OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
Individuals and organizations interested in employment and independent living services for Kansans with disabilities are invited to participate in a series of regional Stakeholder Meetings to be hosted in November and December 2012 by Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) Director Michael Donnelly.
KRS is a division of the Kansas Department for Children and Families. KRS is responsible for vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs for Kansans with disabilities.
During the meetings, KRS Director Michael Donnelly will discuss the four strategic goals of KRS. These goals are:
Participants will be asked to share:
Input received will become part of the agency's comprehensive statewide needs assessment and will be used to update strategic goals and state plans.
Each of the meetings will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. according to the following schedule:
November 20, 2012 Topeka
Pioneer Room, Maner Conference Center, 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard
November 27, 2012 Overland Park
Johnson County Workforce Partnership Office, 9221 Quivira Road
November 29, 2012 -- Wichita
Sudermann Commons Room, Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th Street North
(Please enter through Door C on the east side of the building.)
December 4, 2012 Chanute
3rd Floor, Memorial Hall, 101 S. Lincoln
December 11, 2012 Garden City
Bunker Room, Kansas Department for Children and Families Service Center, 1710 Palace Drive
December 12, 2012 -- Hays
Expeditions Room, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive
All meetings will be held in accessible locations and real-time captioning will be provided. To request a reasonable accommodation (such as a sign language interpreter, Braille, large print, other special media or any other accommodation), please call toll-free 1-866-213-9079 <tel:1-866-213-9079> or toll-free TDD 1-800-432-0698 <tel:1-800-432-0698> at least 10 days before the meeting you will be attending.
In case of inclement weather, please call to confirm the meeting: toll-free customer service line at 1-866-213-9079 <tel:1-866-213-9079> or toll-free TDD 1-800-432-0698 <tel:1-800-432-0698> .
KRS Stakeholders Meetings Announced
NOTICE OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
Individuals and organizations interested in employment and independent living services for Kansans with disabilities are invited to participate in a series of regional Stakeholder Meetings to be hosted in November and December 2012 by Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) Director Michael Donnelly.
KRS is a division of the Kansas Department for Children and Families. KRS is responsible for vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs for Kansans with disabilities.
During the meetings, KRS Director Michael Donnelly will discuss the four strategic goals of KRS. These goals are:
- Kansans with disabilities will achieve quality competitive, integrated employment and self-sufficiency.
- KRS, its providers and partners will be accountable for the achievement of employment and the effective use of resources.
- KRS will emphasize the employment potential of students with disabilities and improve the outreach and outcomes for transition-aged students.
- KRS will emphasize the meaningful involvement of people with disabilities, public/private partners, employers and other stakeholders in KRS programs, services and activities.
Participants will be asked to share:
- Their knowledge and experience related to the needs of Kansans with disabilities
- Their views about the strengths of KRS programs and services
- Suggestions on ways to improve programs and customer service
- Opportunities for greater collaboration with other stakeholders and organizations
Input received will become part of the agency's comprehensive statewide needs assessment and will be used to update strategic goals and state plans.
Each of the meetings will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. according to the following schedule:
November 20, 2012 Topeka
Pioneer Room, Maner Conference Center, 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard
November 27, 2012 Overland Park
Johnson County Workforce Partnership Office, 9221 Quivira Road
November 29, 2012 -- Wichita
Sudermann Commons Room, Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th Street North
(Please enter through Door C on the east side of the building.)
December 4, 2012 Chanute
3rd Floor, Memorial Hall, 101 S. Lincoln
December 11, 2012 Garden City
Bunker Room, Kansas Department for Children and Families Service Center, 1710 Palace Drive
December 12, 2012 -- Hays
Expeditions Room, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive
All meetings will be held in accessible locations and real-time captioning will be provided. To request a reasonable accommodation (such as a sign language interpreter, Braille, large print, other special media or any other accommodation), please call toll-free 1-866-213-9079 <tel:1-866-213-9079> or toll-free TDD 1-800-432-0698 <tel:1-800-432-0698> at least 10 days before the meeting you will be attending.
In case of inclement weather, please call to confirm the meeting: toll-free customer service line at 1-866-213-9079 <tel:1-866-213-9079> or toll-free TDD 1-800-432-0698 <tel:1-800-432-0698> .
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Back on Track: KanCare Updates
For those who follow the InterHab Insider we apologize for falling behind on posting relevant updates about the recent activity regarding KanCare. Please see below for an important article published by KHI yesterday.
KanCare Update
Below is an article posted yesterday by KHI News Service. While there has been some confusion as to the activity surrounding the auto-enrollment process for KanCare, it appears the goal of Kansas Department of Health and Environment (who administers the KS Medicaid program) is to have all KanCare enrollment packets mailed to Medicaid recipients by the end of November. While long-term care supports for persons with I/DD have temporarily been carved out of the KanCare program, Medicaid recipients will still be auto-enrolled into KanCare for medical care.
The article below also includes an update regarding discussions between state officials and the federal entity Centers for Medicaid Services. The state's KanCare program relies on approval from CMS of their request for an 1115 waiver. The update provides an outline of conditions the state's KanCare plan would have to meet.
KHI News Service - November 14, 2012
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