'Prompt pay bill' could impact future of Medicaid expansion

This week Kansas legislators completed their work on House Bill 2552, also referred to as the “prompt pay bill”.

The bill is intended to ensure the state’s Medicaid managed care contractors promptly reimburse providers, addressing widespread reports of problems getting timely payments from managed care companies.

An amendment was added to the bill by the Senate prohibiting the state from expanding Medicaid eligibility without approval from the Legislature.

The Federal Health Reform Law encourages states to expand Medicaid eligibility to include all adults earning up to 138 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Kansas is one of 19 states deciding against the recommended expansion of Medicaid.

According to KHI News Service, Kansas currently has among the nation’s most restrictive Medicaid eligibility criteria. These criteria essentially limit the program to low-income children, the disabled, and the elderly. Childless adults cannot qualify regardless of their income and/or poverty status.

House Bill 2552 was approved by the Legislature, with the Medicaid provision included, and sent to Gov. Sam Brownback earlier this week for signature.