The Kansas Health Policy Authority had mixed results from the regular session and has several key requests still pending consideration.
Medicaid Eligibility Clearinghouse
What they wanted: The agency asked for four additional staff positions and 17 contract staff in the form of a supplemental request for $496,000 from the state general fund for Fiscal Year 2007 and $573,000 from the general fund in FY 2008.
What they got: The Legislature provided funding of $371,658 from the general fund and three staff positions for FY 2008. The agency”s request will be reviewed again at Omnibus.
Healthy Kansas First Five
What they wanted: Funding to expand HealthWave to include children ages five and under from families earning 300 percent or less of federal poverty guidelines. Cost: $4 million SGF, $10 million all funds.
What they got: A promise the request will be considered during Omnibus considerations.
Adult dental services
What they wanted: The agency sought $3.5 million SGF, $8.8 million all funds to provide dental services for adults currently enrolled in Medicaid.
What they got: A promise of House review during Omnibus
Childhood obesity counseling
What they wanted: The agency asked for $590,000 SGF, $1.475 million all funds to provide incentives for primary care providers to monitor body mass index, diet and physical activity.
What they got: A promise it will be reviewed at Omnibus
Enhanced Care Management
What they wanted: The agency sought $500,000 SGF, $1 million all funds for a Sedgwick County pilot program aimed at
improving health care for adult Medicaid beneficiaries
.
What they got: A promise of review during Omnibus
What KHPA received in the regular session
Additional staffing
What they wanted: Additional staff members, mostly in the areas of finance, accounting and oversight: 22 from a supplemental request for $531,000 SGF in FY 2007; and 20 more for FY 2008 using $813,000 SGF.
What they got: House and Senate approved 31 additional positions.
Analytic interface
What they wanted: $385,000 SGF for a data management and policy analysis program.
What they got: Full funding.
Health Information Exchange
What they wanted: $373,000 SGF and $623,000 all funds for continuation of statewide HIE projects and support of HIE initiatives in other agencies.
What they got: $1 million all funds.
Transparency initiative
What they wanted: The agency sought $150,000 SGF to begin a two-phase initiative aimed at making health care cost and quality data available to consumers and purchasers.
What they got: Nothing and no omnibus consideration.
Long Term Care Partnership
What they wanted: The agency asked for $104,000 SGF, $208,000 all funds, for a program in cooperation with the Insurance Department to encourage people to buy long term care insurance.
What they got: Nothing and no omnibus consideration.
Community Health Record
What they wanted: The agency sought $125,000 SGF, $250,000 all funds to extend a pilot program evaluating the effects of information technology on Medicaid providers and beneficiaries.
What they got: Full funding
Various studies
What they wanted: The agency asked for $225,000 SGF, $342,500 all funds, to do five studies on the following topics:
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ePrescribing for the Medicaid program
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Consolidating Kansas drug prescription assistance programs
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Workforce shortage in rural and underserved urban areas
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Medicaid beneficiary wellness
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Deficit Reduction Act flexibilities for Kansas
What they got: Nothing and no omnibus consideration.