Latest news with #KanCare
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kansas gov. warns of $1 billion Medicaid cuts, Republican retaliates with ‘fearmongering' accusation
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas Democrat Governor Laura Kelly is taking a stand this week amid the possibility of federal cuts to Medicaid. Kelly announced in a press release on May 5 that she has sent a letter to the Kansas Congressional Delegation asking that it protect Kansans from possible Medicaid cuts. The delegation consists of Kansas' representatives in Congress including its two senators and four representatives. Politicians in Congress are currently debating possible controversial cuts to the Medicaid program. She said these cuts threaten the quality and affordability of health care access for some of the Sunflower State's residents along with up to $1 billion in federal funding for Kansas. 'Significant cuts to the Medicaid program will directly affect Kansans across the state, regardless of their political views. These cuts would be particularly detrimental to our rural hospitals and providers,' Kelly said. 'We must stand up against these changes to ensure the hundreds of thousands of Kansans covered under Medicaid can continue to receive quality, affordable care.' Why legalizing weed in Kansas isn't working Kelly said Kansas' Medicaid program, known as KanCare, provides assistance to more than 443,000 people. Low-income older adults, children, pregnant mothers and those with disabilities rely on the program, according to the Office of the Governor. Republican Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued a response to the governor's letter. He accused Kelly of 'fearmongering' and not understanding how Medicaid Expansion and Medicaid work. 'The truth is, President Trump is talking about righting the ship on Medicaid and ensuring it's sustainable for years to come. Currently, Medicaid incentivizes providers to see able-bodied adults before the truly needy, that Medicaid was intended for- the frail, elderly, and disabled as well as kids in the CHIPS program. For years, we have said that expanding Medicaid beyond those who truly need it will jeopardize the program and now here we are. Our country cannot continue spending money like drunken sailors, and while Governor Kelly would like to turn Medicaid into taxpayer-funded coverage for anyone who wants it, that's simply not sustainable. I applaud the Trump administration and those in our federal delegation for their efforts to preserve Medicaid. That's done by cutting out waste, fraud, and abuse and implementing real work requirements. These are all simple fixes that can help ensure Medicaid remains available to those who need it while not bankrupting our country and state. Governor Kelly should be less concerned about leading the DGA resistance to President Trump and focus more on the best interests of the country, the people of Kansas, and the long-term future of Medicaid.' Republican Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins statement excerpt You can read through Kelly's letter to the Kansas Congressional Delegation by clicking here or by looking at it below: CODEL Letter Mediciad Cuts 5.5.25 by Matthew Self on Scribd What new Kansas laws go into effect on July 1, 2025? For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kansas Medicaid advocates share dire forecast of potential congressional funding cuts
REACH Healthcare Foundation and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, health-related philanthropies serving Kansans, said potential cuts in federal spending on Medicaid could slash health coverage of low-income Kansans and threaten financially struggling hospitals. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Analysis of potential congressional cuts to Medicaid indicated Kansas' loss of nearly $350 million in the first year and more than $3 billion over 10 years could shrink coverage for vulnerable populations, escalate family medical debt and raise the risk of hospital closures. Reductions in federal financing of Medicaid could lead to downsizing by 5% to 15% the number of Medicaid enrollees in Kansas and trigger a decline of 22% in Medicaid funding to hospitals in the state. Kansas has two-dozen rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure. Shrinking federal funding to Medicaid could add to the burden of uncompensated patient care and threaten hospitals operating on narrow margins. The findings were in a report released Tuesday by REACH Healthcare Foundation and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, both health-related philanthropies serving Kansans. The report incorporated analysis from Manatt Health, which provides strategic, policy and legal advisory services in the health care industry. Impetus for the projections was upcoming debate in Congress on a goal of cutting $880 billion in federal spending on Medicaid in the next decade. 'The data is clear and deeply concerning,' said David Jordan, president and CEO of United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. 'We will all pay the price – higher costs, increases in local taxes and less access to care – to offset these cuts. It's critical that lawmakers, health care providers, advocates and the people of Kansas recognize the consequences before it's too late.' United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is a statewide foundation that has worked since 1986 to improve the health of Kansans. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program offering health coverage to lower-income Kansas children, seniors, people with disabilities and pregnant women. Medicaid enrolls 366,000 Kansans, including 31% of the state's children. Medicaid supports four of seven nursing home residents in Kansas as well as one in four working-age adults in the state who have a disability, the report said. There is interest among congressional Republicans in adopting a national work requirement for recipients of Medicaid. The Kansas Medicaid program, known as KanCare, doesn't extend coverage to working-age adults regardless of income unless the recipient was a parent, caregiver or a person with a disability. 'Medicaid is the largest source of federal funds in Kansas and any cuts to the program will have severe economic and health impacts felt in every corner of the state,' said Brenda Sharpe, president and CEO of REACH Healthcare Foundation. REACH is a charitable organization striving to improve access to quality, affordable care for uninsured and medically underserved residents of Johnson, Wyandotte and Allen counties in Kansas and Jackson, Cass and Lafayette counties in Missouri. Manatt Health relied on computer modeling to produce one-year and 10-year projections for Medicaid based on the idea of reducing federal expenditures by $880 billion within a decade. The work by Manatt Health was released before Congress completed work on spending adjustments, but the assessment aligned with policy parameters, options and effective dates outlined by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kansas lawmakers alter bidding process for Medicaid services after Aetna loses state contract
Rep. Will Carpenter, an El Dorado Republican, sits at his desk during an April 10, 2025, session of the House. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — A major health insurance company lost out on a bid to continue its role as one of Kansas' Medicaid providers, and the state Legislature passed a law to avoid a repeat. Aetna Better Health of Kansas embroiled itself last year in legal battles with the state arguing the selection process for providers of the $4 billion Medicaid program was flawed. Legislators similarly criticized the executive branch for a lack of transparency. One Republican said the ordeal would be a 'stain' on Kansas' contract processes for years to come. Aetna provided health coverage as a managed care organization under KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas, for five years leading up to the state's 2024 evaluation process. The company tied for third place with another private health insurance company and ultimately lost the bid. In August, Aetna asked a legislative committee to consider changing the rules for MCO selection as it was going through an appeals process, which it lost. House Bill 2284, which Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed April 4 and the Legislature revived Thursday, forces the executive branch to create policies addressing some issues Aetna litigated. Republicans, who overrode the veto, say the bill improves transparency. But the governor in her veto message said the bill is a 'dramatic overreach' into the authority of the executive and judicial branches. 'Most alarmingly, this bill creates a haphazard procurement process that does nothing to mitigate conflicts of interest among legislators and creates an environment that is rife for exploitation and graft — exactly the opposite of what the existing process, overseen by the Department of Administration, is designed to do,' Kelly said. She said the bill risked creating 'legal, ethical and constitutional challenges.' In the Senate, the override passed Thursday without debate in a 30-10 vote with Sen. Tim Shallenburger, a Baxter Springs Republican, joining Democrats in opposition. The House completed the veto with an 88-37 vote along party lines. 'It's a good bill. Vote for it,' said Rep. Will Carpenter, an El Dorado Republican. That was the extent of House Republicans' remarks on the bill in their effort to overturn the veto. Kelly said she would have supported the bill in its original form. 'As amended, this bill is now unworkable and opens the state up to costly and protracted litigation,' she said. During the 2024 contract bidding process, Aetna and Healthy Blue, a Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate, earned the same score, warranting a tiebreaker. However, state officials destroyed documentation of evaluators' scoring notes that informed the selection of Healthy Blue over Aetna. Aetna appealed the state's decision to pick Healthy Blue. The decision, which came from the Department of Administration, eventually was upheld in Shawnee County District Court. Aetna also sued state agencies for destroying the scoring records, and was unsuccessful. Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City Democrat, refrained from voting on the veto override at first, but after being required to cast a vote under Senate rules, he voted to sustain the governor's veto. He said he supported the bill in its original form but deferred to the governor's opinion. 'I think it's good to have procedures in place when we look at our MCOs,' Haley said. 'However I greatly respect the overarching view that the governor can give to these measures and her vetting this and finding it to be something that should be reconsidered. I won't lean on my own judgement, my own opinion.' In its original form, the bill contained three provisions regulating the MCO bidding and selection process. It required the executive branch to create policies that prohibit the destruction of records covered under the Kansas Open Records Act, adopt tiebreaking procedures and 'to be transparent with the Legislature during each step of the procurement process to the fullest extent permitted by state law.' Later, lawmakers added a fourth provision requiring a new appeals process. Currently aggrieved bidders go through judicial review. Under the new law, an appeals committee made up of legislative leadership — and headed by the senate president — will take up review. Rep. Susan Wikle, a Lawrence Democrat, said her primary issue with the bill was the modification of the appeals process. Democrats initially were left out of the newly established legislative panel but were later included, Wikle said. She said she had unanswered questions about the interplay between the existing judicial review process and the new panel's function, but after she found answers, she reached the conclusion that the bill was an 'overreach.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dozens of health organizations urge Kansas governor to veto Medicaid eligibility changes
The Kansas Statehouse in February 2025 in Topeka. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Nearly 50 health organizations signed a letter urging the Kansas governor to veto a budget provision that would end continuous eligibility in the state's Medicaid program, which allows public health insurance enrollees to consistently access health care. If allowed to become law, the budget provision would require the state to evaluate parents and caregivers who receive coverage under KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas, to be evaluated every month instead of every year. Currently, eligible enrollees are covered under KanCare for an entire year once approved, regardless of any change in circumstances during that time. The Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund drafted the letter, which was delivered Tuesday to Gov. Laura Kelly with signatures from 48 organizations. David Jordan, president and CEO of the health fund, said allowing the provision to pass could mean adding between $3-4 million in costs to the state and lost health insurance coverage for low-income families. An estimated 38,000 Kansans would be impacted by the change, the letter said. 'This change will affect the most vulnerable Kansans who live well below the poverty line,' the letter said. 'The constant dis-enrollment and re-enrollment of beneficiaries is burdensome for everyone and could prevent families from receiving the necessary care they need.' Kansas has used continuous eligibility since 2010. In order to qualify for KanCare, households must remain below income thresholds. A family of four, for instance, cannot exceed an annual income of roughly $11,800. 'These families already have enough challenges on their plates without the added burden of continuously reapplying for health insurance,' the letter said. Research has shown that continuous eligibility reduces financial barriers for low-income families, improves health outcomes and gives states the ability to exercise accountability measures. Other signers of the letter included advocacy health care providers, patient groups, foundations like United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and advocacy groups like Kansas Action for Children. Adrienne Olejnik, vice president of Kansas Action for Children, said the organization is concerned. 'Not only is this a waste of money on administrative costs, but it would also cause health care disruptions and delays based on small changes in income,' she said. Olejnik said the Senate Ways and Means Committee added the provision to a budget bill at the last minute. She said she hopes a veto from the governor will allow lawmakers to fully consider the weight of the change. Kelly, whose office declined to comment for this story, has until Thursday to veto line items in the budget. The Legislature's two-day veto session also is scheduled to begin Thursday.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Patients, providers and hospitals in Kansas all depend on Medicaid for vital care
The Medicaid health insurance program provides essential support for Kansans, writes Rebecca Phillips. (Getty Images) Millions of individuals in this country rely on Medicaid. Poor Medicaid: To me Medicaid is like a person who gets beat up on all the time. No one quite understands what to do with Medicaid, or what rules or laws to implement with it. Hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid payments, and so do nursing homes. Doctors' offices and mental health clinics such as Valeo rely on Medicaid as well. When Medicaid was privatized in Kansas and became known as KanCare, put into three for-profit companies, problems abounded. It became especially problematic for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Now, in the U.S. Congress, there is debate about changes and cuts to Medicaid. It's all very confusing, but the bottom line is all of it would harm the Medicaid program. The people who rely on Medicaid are not criminals. They are not entitled and trying to get something for nothing. These are people who truly can't work and who may need Medicaid for the remainder of their lives. With Medicaid, people can thrive in their communities and receive lifesaving care and support. Do we care about these folks? Do we care about preserving our hospitals like K.U. Medical Center and the nursing homes where our loved ones reside? Whenever I think of asking tough questions, I always go back to my own faith and ask the question: 'What Would Jesus Do?' Indeed, now is the time for Congress to ask this question and to search deep within their hearts for the answers to all of these pressing issues. Valeo Behavioral Health Care has faced budget cuts due to changes and cuts in Medicaid funding. They work with the three managed care companies administering KanCare, and it has been and continues to be a tremendous challenge. Families know what is best for their children. It's easy to say, 'Let's have cuts and harmful cuts to Medicaid,' when one doesn't have a disabled family member or friend or anyone they know who relies on Medicaid. Disabilities are not the enemy. Poverty shouldn't be the enemy. I think a lot of people are afraid of the needs of others. They feel overwhelmed and burdened by what they don't understand. Let's imagine if Jesus walked into the U.S. Congress and sat down with all the lawmakers. What would He say to them? Who would He advocate for? Families are crying out for help and greater funding of Medicaid and not greater burdens. Let's listen to their cries and not turn away. Let's not create burdens for people who are already about to give up. When I see people in need, I often feel overwhelmed, but I don't ignore that person. Instead, I ask my deep faith what to do. My grandpa, who was a minister for 60 years, used to always end his phone calls with me by saying kindly: 'Rebecca, stay on the road.' With all the drama and trauma going on these days, I would implore Congressional leaders to not ignore these families with loved ones who need Medicaid. I would encourage them to imagine stepping into my grandpa's summer kitchen — in the back of his old, huge, historic home in Americus, Georgia — and listen to him encourage them to stay on the road, to stick to their values no matter what. Let's not give up on the right thing to do. Let's reach out during this time and dare to care. It's the only thing to do. Rebecca Lyn Phillips is a published author, speaker and mental health advocate. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
