Integrated Waiver Update

Rep. Jim Kelly's motion
received unanimous support

The House Health and Human Services subcommittee today concluded their discussions on HB 2682 (which would bar the State from amending the waiver programs without legislative consent).

In a unanimous vote, on a motion from Rep. Jim Kelly, the subcommittee recommended to the full committee that the integrated waiver NOT go forward before January 1, 2018, and that KDHE should report next January 2017 on the numerous concerns cited in the committee hearings.

Representative Jim Ward was a strong catalyst throughout the hearing for the proposed delay, and Representatives Osterman, Kelly and Dove all spoke in support of the rights of persons served, and the legislative obligation to speak out for those persons.

Every member of the subcommittee spoke firmly in favor of the delay, and they were not subtle in the degree of dissatisfaction they expressed regarding the lack of detail presented by the State. All were instead focused on the details presented from a wide variety of  stakeholder groups --  including I/DD, PD, DRC, KACIL, Senior advocates, Head injury professionals and the AAA network.

Rep. Jim Ward was a strong
catalyst throughout the
hearing for the proposed delay

Here are the next steps:

1. The subcommittee will make their recommendation to the full committee. We are reasonably certain believe the chair will support the subcommittee work.

2. We hope at this point and will advocate that the full committee will ask the Appropriations Committee to add a proviso to the next available appropriations legislation, which will essentially (if signed into law) block the State from using HCBS/Medicaid funds in an integrated waiver model.

3. We are currently reaching out to selected Senators to determine their interest in the matter, but for now, our stage is set in the house.

All legislators should be contacted.

All legislators should be informed that the integrated waiver should be delayed, and that the work of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee (Dove, Kelly, Osterman and Ward) should be supported.

All feedback that you receive back from your legislators should be shared with InterHab. More to come as we learn more about the coming steps legislators will take.