KanCare News...

Yesterday, DD advocates packed the house at a public forum on KanCare in Olathe...

The Governor also released details regarding his plan to reduce waiting lists for home and community based services.  Projections include moving 200 Kansans with developmental disabilities off the waiting list.

"Roadblocks to care" - Special Editorial in the Eagle

Dear Governor Campaign TV Launch on Sunday

Today InterHab publicly announced our statewide media campaign to urge Governor Brownback to exclude long-term I/DD care services from the State's Medicaid managed care model known as KanCare.  Beginning this weekend, the following television ad will begin airing:

The media campaign, titled “Dear Governor,” will feature television and radio spots from parents of Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities directly urging the governor to exclude their child’s long-term care from KanCare. The spots will air in communities across Kansas. The media campaign will augment a widespread advocacy effort already underway across the state that has seen tens of thousands of Kansans e-mail, write letters and telephone their legislators and the governor to urge that I/DD long-term care services be excluded from KanCare. Advocates have also taken to social media with tens of thousands of “likes” and shares of “Dear Governor” pictures, videos and messages that have appeared on Facebook.

Article Update - From KHI

Below are a couple of articles providing updates regarding advocacy efforts to permanently carve out long-term I/DD services from KanCare, and a progress report regarding the KanCare "pilot" program...which is now being referred to as a transition program.

Great Special to the Star Opinion Piece & Letter to WE Editor

Below are two great news items - a "Special to the Star" Opinion Editorial from Effie Bradley of Lake Quivira shares her experiences with sister Liz and their shared concerns regarding KanCare.  In addition, Aldona Carney of Wichita writes a letter to the Wichita Eagle Editor.

Great Job ACT: Wichita Forum on KanCare and Kansans with I/DD

Congratulations to members of the ACT (Advocates in Communities Team) group who hosted a great public forum in the Wichta area on Saturday.  Over a hundred community members were present to learn more about KanCare implementation as it relates to Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The event kicked off with a presentation by Matt Fletcher, Associate Director of InterHab and was followed by David P. Rundle an individual with a disability and David's brother.  David and his brother shared the impacts of KanCare implementation and the chaos surrounding the many attempts to rectify changes that were recently made in David's daily care.  The Rundles were followed by a Wichita mother who shared her experiences so far with KanCare.  Her story showcased the stark contrast between being able to rely on a current I/DD system Case Manager (someone who can aid you in finding community resources/activities to provide your child with fulfilling a lifestyle) versus a KanCare coordinator who is unfamiliar with her son and the community they live in.

Many local providers also shared their experiences and concerns regarding the impending inclusion of long-term supports for Kansans with I/DD, which will take place on January 1, 2014.

Editorials and Letters to the Editor Keep KanCare Issues Buzzing

Have you seen the latest KanCare editorials from the Lawrence Journal World and the Wichita Eagle?  And check out the two letters to the editor recently featured in the Osawatomie Graphic!

Lawrence Journal World: April 10, 2013

Wichita Eagle: April 5, 2013

Osawatomie Graphic: April 10, 2013

Invisible Kansans 2.0 and The 'Dear Governor' Campaign

InterHab is excited to re-introduce advocates to the new Invisible Kansans website and campaign.  A few years ago we began a campaign called Invisible Kansans to help lend our voices to issues important to persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), their family members and the professionals who support them.

Well, friends of the Invisible Kansans community, we need your help again!

We're calling on concerned persons with I/DD, their family members, human service professionals and all concerned citizens to add their voices to the choir of advocates urging for a permanent carve out of long-term I/DD services from KanCare!

To do so, we're asking you to help create some buzz on social media websites like facebook and twitter.  We want you to ask Governor Brownback to address our concerns and implement a permanent carve out of long-term I/DD services.  So share a picture like the one below or create a video like our friends at Mosaic in Ellsworth and share your concerns!

And be sure to send a letter or email to the Governor today - you can do so by visiting www.invisiblekansans.com!