Representative David Crum and Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook today announced their intent to introduce legislation to establish a KanCare oversight committee.
KHI News Service was at the legislators’ press briefing and will post an update here soon.
Crum, a Republican from Augusta, is the newly appointed chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee. Pilcher-Cook, a Shawnee Republican, is the newly appointed chair of the Public Health and Welfare committee.
Last year, legislation to establish KanCare oversight was approved in the Senate but was not put to a vote in the House. The 2013 session convenes Jan. 14.
The governor announced earlier this month that federal officials have given the green light for the state to launch its KanCare program effective Jan. 1. The state’s 380,000 Medicaid enrollees will be in managed care plans run by three insurance companies: Amerigroup, United Healthcare and Sunflower State Health Plan, a subsidiary of Centene.
Administration officials say the new program will save the state and federal governments $1 billion or more over the next five years while improving care and services for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Anna Lambertson, director of the Kansas Health Consumer Coalition applauded the announcement.
“We have consistently advocated for legislative oversight of KanCare since the program was first announced.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Crum, Sen. Pilcher-Cook, other members of the Legislature and the Governor’s administration to move oversight legislation forward in 2013.”
KHI News Service coverage of KanCare
→ Hutchinson Clinic’s letter throws a curve to KanCare open enrollment (1/28/14)
→ National Disability Council again urges CMS to hold off on Kansas DD carve-in (1/14/14)
→ DD carve-in not approved for Jan. 1 launch (12/27/13)
→ National Council on Disability urges one-year delay of KanCare DD carve-in (12/13/13)
→ KDADS chief describes lessons learned with KanCare (12/5/13)
→ Other states watching Kansas as it implements ‘unprecedented’ Medicaid model (12/5/13)
→ KanCare reimbursement problems continue for providers (11/25/13)
→ Kansas dental program for children on hold because of KanCare MCO (11/11/13)
→ Kansas Medicaid providers complain to oversight committee (10/7/13)
→ Wichita hospital execs describe problems with KanCare (8/29/13)
→ KanCare to adopt “health home” model for treating mentally ill (7/22/13)
→ Kentucky’s rush into Medicaid managed care: A cautionary tale for other states (7/18/13)
→ DD groups largely reconciled to KanCare carve-in (7/15/13)
→ Advocates urge more government oversight of Medicaid managed care (7/8/13)
→ Independent pharmacists push for KanCare contract enforcement (7/1/13)
→ Payroll agents for the disabled on Medicaid say they are struggling under KanCare (6/3/13)
→ Personal Care Attendants: KanCare’s unheralded workers (5/20/13)
→ House GOP leaders pen letter backing DD supports in KanCare (5/17/13)
→ More than 1,000 rally at Statehouse for DD carve-out (5/8/13)
→ Nothing to be done about coverage gap in states not expanding Medicaid, feds say (4/29/13)
→ As KanCare continuity of care period ends, problems persist; legislators starting to hear about it (4/8/13)
→ Advocates raise concerns over possible reductions in KanCare services (3/28/13)
→ Conferees agree on KanCare oversight committee (3/28/13)
→ DD advocates push to extend KanCare “carve-out” (3/20/13)
→ Safety-net clinics struggling with KanCare (3/4/13)
→ Major medical provider groups ask for longer KanCare transition (2/13/13)
→ Lawmakers and providers assess KanCare transition (1/28/13)
→ Five-part series: “Lower cost and better care: Can KanCare deliver?” (1/14/13)
→ Independence of KanCare ombudsman questioned (1/7/13)
→ KanCare special terms and conditions spelled out by CMS in a document (12/28/12)
→ KanCare workforce shift hampering local agencies (12/10/12)
→ Governor announces KanCare approval by feds (12/7/12)
→ More KanCare implementation details outlined (12/3/12)
→ Federal officials say they hope to act soon on KanCare waiver request (11/28/12)
→ New KanCare info included on state website (11/20/12)
→ Groups call for KanCare delay (11/8/12)
→ Go/no-go date looms this week for KanCare (10/15/12)
→ KanCare benefit packages outlined (9/26/12)
→ Provider groups nervous about lack of KanCare details (9/13/12)
→ KanCare Confidential (9/10/12)
→ KanCare contracts awarded (6/27/12)
→ KanCare plan panned again at public hearing (6/20/12)
→ Wichita KanCare forum draws more than 200 (6/19/12)
→ Medicaid makeover: Can Kansas learn from Kentucky? (6/11/12)
→ Hundreds protest inclusion of disability services in KanCare (4/25/12)
→ Counties weighing in on KanCare (4/9/12)
→ Hospital administrator to chair KanCare Advisory Council (3/29/12)
→ Brownback Medicaid makeover an “ambitious” plan (3/28/12)
→ KanCare bidders heavily courting Medicaid providers (3/19/12)
→ Legislators push to delay KanCare start (3/7/12)
→ Brownback announces managed care for all in Medicaid (11/8/11)
→ Kansas Medicaid makeover in the works (3/7/11)
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