The state’s KanCare program rescheduled education meetings to this week after snowstorms in late February forced their postponement.

In Hays Monday, an afternoon meeting at the Ramada Inn targeted KanCare providers.  The evening session was for consumers.

The meetings are presented by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.  During the providers meeting, Medicaid Initiatives Coordinator Becky Ross said the goal is to simply answer questions about the switch to KanCare.

“Everyone who was in Medicaid or Healthwave has been assigned by the state to one of the new policies, ” she explained, “and they have until April 4th to switch plans. After that deadline, patients are locked in to their policies for a year, but will have the opportunity to change plans annually.”

Ross also said patients should verify their preferred doctors are covered by their policy.

KanCare is administered by three private insurance companies, Amerigroup of Kansas, Sunflower State Health Plan and United Healthcare of the Midwest.

KanCare was launched Jan. 1 to reduce the growth of state Medicaid costs.