Details can be found at the website below
Thursday, March 28, 2013
April 4 KanCare Deadline to Switch MCOs
Just a reminder, persons with intelletual/developmental disabilities have until April 4th to choose a different KanCare plan. KanCare plans were auto-assigned, but persons with I/DD may choose to change their plan by April 4th.
Details can be found at the website below
Details can be found at the website below
Monday, March 25, 2013
What's the latest on Sen Sub for HB 2155?
Sen Sub. for HB 2155 has been passed over, meaning it retains a spot on the calendar under “general orders”. Basically, this means that the Senate can take up the bill whenever they’re ready to. Good work today advocates, rest assured YOUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD. More updates tomorrow!
Listen to Senators Debate Sen. Sub. for HB 2155
Listen to your senators debate Senate Substitute for HB 2155! To listen in, visit the Legislature’s website (www.kslegislature.org) and click on the “A/V Live” link at the top of the page. You will then be prompted to choose a media player on your computer to utilize in listening in.
Sen. Sub for HB 2155 is pretty far down the list of bills the Senate will consider today, so it will still be some time before they take up the debate on the bill.
You might also want to let your senators know that you’ll be listening in today. Send them an email to let them know!
There's Still Time to Make a Difference on SSHB 2155
There's still time to make a difference on Senate Substitute for HB 2155!!! Do the following advocacy activities before 10:00am...
1. Call your Senator (www.openkansas.org), tell them you oppose SSHB 2155
2. Follow up your call with an e-mail, explain further why you oppose SSHB 2155
3. Send a direct message to your Senator on Twitter
4. Post a message to your Senator's fb urging him/her to oppose SSHB 2155
Here's some inspirational news coverage of advocates raising their voices!
From the Lawrence Journal World...
From the Wichita Eagle...
1. Call your Senator (www.openkansas.org), tell them you oppose SSHB 2155
2. Follow up your call with an e-mail, explain further why you oppose SSHB 2155
3. Send a direct message to your Senator on Twitter
4. Post a message to your Senator's fb urging him/her to oppose SSHB 2155
Here's some inspirational news coverage of advocates raising their voices!
From the Lawrence Journal World...
From the Wichita Eagle...
Friday, March 22, 2013
IMPORTANT UPDATE: SB 194 Bill No. Change
Senate Bill 194 has been cut and pasted into a separate bill, House Bill 2155. Therefore the new bill number is Senate Substitute for House Bill 2155.
SB 194 Amended: You be the judge...
Senate Bill 194 passed out of committee yesterday with an amendment further clarifying it's intent - to alter functions of CDDOs and put greater power into the hands of KanCare's insurance companies. These changes further contradict the Administration's promises to leave CDDOs intact as well as the relationships between persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their case managers. Case management in the I/DD system is founded on person-centered principles and includes frequent face-to-face interaction.
You be the judge:
The KHI article below states the Administration's official position on the bill remains neutral, but we'll let you decide if their comments touting the benefits of the amendment equate to neutrality.
InterHab believes keeping a promise requires more than neutrality. What do you think?
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
SB 194 Hearing Today
This afternoon (at 1:30pm) the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 194. This bill, as it is currently written, could challenge commitments made to the I/DD community by the Administration:
Commitment One: That the Administration would not amend the DD Reform Act
The Developmental Disability Reform Act was passed by the Kansas legislature in 1995. The DDRA provides statutes for community-based I/DD services governed by a community/state partnership as well as philosophical direction to promote independent and fulfilling lifestyles for persons with I/DD. The DDRA was written in part to establish a strong community/state partnership which was considered necessary to protect the interests of vulnerable Kansans against the potential that future Governors and Legislators could sell off the interests of publicly supported I/DD services to powerful external interests.
SB 194 contains language that could remove from some CDDO's the role of eligibility determination. The CDDO (Community Developmental Disability Organization) acts as a gatekeeper to the Kansas I/DD system. CDDOs are nonprofit or county-operated organizations that determine eligibility, assess the individual's needs and inform the individual of service options. CDDOs are contracted by the State with oversight from the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). The language of SB 194 favors a system which is friendlier to tightened eligibility and service reductions, which in turn favors insurance contractors preparing to take over I/DD services.
Commitment Two: That there would be no interference into the vital and critical relationships that exist between persons-served, their families and their targeted case manager
The language in SB 194 to affect some CDDOs could in turn affect the current relationships established between individuals with I/DD and their targeted case managers. Case managers aid persons with I/DD (and their families) in coordinating services such as residential assistance, employment support, etc. Currently, the individual with I/DD and/or their family has the right to choose their Case Manager. SB 194 sets in motion the potential that the State or private insurance companies would assign case managers, removing a freedom of choice that is critical to the current system of supports.
What's next?
In this afternoon's hearing, we believe Secretary Sullivan, KDADS will express a neutral position on SB 194. But neutrality does not equal support.
That's why we need YOUR support. We must continue to raise our voices and share our concerns. Bills like SB 194 only confirm our fears that commitments to a community-based, mission-focused network of supports for persons with I/DD cannot be maintained under the umbrella of KanCare.
Please, urge the Administration to keep their commitments by contacting your legislators today!
Commitment One: That the Administration would not amend the DD Reform Act
The Developmental Disability Reform Act was passed by the Kansas legislature in 1995. The DDRA provides statutes for community-based I/DD services governed by a community/state partnership as well as philosophical direction to promote independent and fulfilling lifestyles for persons with I/DD. The DDRA was written in part to establish a strong community/state partnership which was considered necessary to protect the interests of vulnerable Kansans against the potential that future Governors and Legislators could sell off the interests of publicly supported I/DD services to powerful external interests.
SB 194 contains language that could remove from some CDDO's the role of eligibility determination. The CDDO (Community Developmental Disability Organization) acts as a gatekeeper to the Kansas I/DD system. CDDOs are nonprofit or county-operated organizations that determine eligibility, assess the individual's needs and inform the individual of service options. CDDOs are contracted by the State with oversight from the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). The language of SB 194 favors a system which is friendlier to tightened eligibility and service reductions, which in turn favors insurance contractors preparing to take over I/DD services.
Commitment Two: That there would be no interference into the vital and critical relationships that exist between persons-served, their families and their targeted case manager
The language in SB 194 to affect some CDDOs could in turn affect the current relationships established between individuals with I/DD and their targeted case managers. Case managers aid persons with I/DD (and their families) in coordinating services such as residential assistance, employment support, etc. Currently, the individual with I/DD and/or their family has the right to choose their Case Manager. SB 194 sets in motion the potential that the State or private insurance companies would assign case managers, removing a freedom of choice that is critical to the current system of supports.
What's next?
In this afternoon's hearing, we believe Secretary Sullivan, KDADS will express a neutral position on SB 194. But neutrality does not equal support.
That's why we need YOUR support. We must continue to raise our voices and share our concerns. Bills like SB 194 only confirm our fears that commitments to a community-based, mission-focused network of supports for persons with I/DD cannot be maintained under the umbrella of KanCare.
Please, urge the Administration to keep their commitments by contacting your legislators today!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Legislative Calendar March 11 - 15
HOUSE
MONDAY MARCH 11TH
Appropriations @ 8:00 AM RM 112-N
Final action on HB 2231 – Appropriations for FY 2014, 15, 16, 17, 18
TUESDAY MARCH 12TH
Appropriations @ 9:00 AM RM 112-N
Final action on HB 2231 – Appropriations for FY 2014, 15, 16, 17, 18
WEDNESDAY MARCH 13TH
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development @1:30 PM RM 346-S
Hearing on SB 73 – Workers compensation
SENATE
TUESDAY MARCH 12TH
Public Health and Welfare @ 1:30 PM RM 118-N
Hearing on SB 194 – CDDOs; performance of functional assessments
WEDNESDAY MARCH 13TH
Commerce @ 8:30 AM RM 548-S
Hearing on SB 195 – Kansas employment first initiative act amendments
Federal and State Affairs @10:30 AM RM 144-S
Hearing on HB 2193 – Public facililities; accessibility standards for disabled persons
THURSDAY MARCH 14TH
Assessment and Taxation @ 9:30 AM RM 548-S
Hearing on SB 162 – Allowing employees to retain and receive employer contributions for health insurance
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
KanCare implementation 'a daily inferno'
State officials paint a pretty rosy picture of the transitioning of Medicaid services to private insurance companies... but not everyone agrees. Lori Lowrey, chief revenue officer for the Community Health Clinic of Southeast Kansas shares her point of view…
"I went through the tornado in Joplin and survived...I would equate the anxiety of KanCare with the anxiety I felt following that event. It’s just been an inferno every day.”
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