By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Feb. 28
Concerned that plans for major changes in the state”s mental health system are being rushed, the Kansas Mental Health Coalition announced plans Wednesday for an informational forum next month.
Plans call for inviting Ray Dalton, deputy director for health care policy at the state Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, and Mike Hammond, executive director of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas.
“They”re two of the key players in developing the new plan
a plan that starts July 1,” said Mary Ellen Conlee, vice chairwoman of the coalition. “There are a lot of unanswered questions out there and this, we hope, will be an opportunity to get some answers.”
Conlee is a lobbyist for Via Christi Health Systems in Wichita.
The one-hour forum will start at 11 a.m. on March 28 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Room 202. The meeting is open to the public but seating is limited.
Last year, federal auditors raised several questions about
the state”s
Medicaid-funded mental health programs.
SRS, in turn, has announced its intent to hire Kansas Health Solutions, a managed care company started by the Association of Mental Health Centers of Kansas. Hammond will serve as the company”s interim CEO.
Kansas Health Solutions
is expected to resolve most of the issues raised by the federal auditors.
Managed care is expected to reduce expenditures. Some services likely will not be funded; others may be funded at lower rates.
The uncertainty has mental health advocates dreading cuts in services.
“I”ve told my board of directors that I”ll stand by our budget until July 1
after July 1, I have no idea what”s going to happen,” said Walt Hill, executive director of the High Plains Mental Health Center in Hays.
Jane Adams, executive director at Keys for Networking, objected to the notion of having to tell families with mentally ill children that much-needed services will no longer be provided.
“If we were planning a July 1 wedding, we”d be making all kinds of arrangements,” Adams said. “But this is a huge change and none of us know how it”s going work or how it”s going to affect us.”
Hammond is a member of the coalition but was unable to attend the meeting Tuesday.
-Dave Ranney is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. He can be reached at
dranney@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 128.