Over the past two years, LeadingAge Kansas has closely monitored and actively advocated on KanCare. As an association representing 160 nonprofit long-term care and aging service providers that serve more than 20,000 older Kansans, we have had many opportunities to provide input about KanCare to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Brownback administration. We have appreciated their open-door policy and responsiveness to our questions and concerns.

It has been clear for more than a decade that the growth in the state’s Medicaid budget is not sustainable. The administration established KanCare as a way to address this issue, and to improve quality outcomes, expand consumer choice and increase care coordination across health care settings. LeadingAge Kansas supports these ambitious and laudable goals.

The initial implementation phase of KanCare was rocky, especially related to claims filing and timely payment. However, as the weeks have gone by, problems have been fixed, and the state is working diligently with the managed-care companies and our members for resolution of remaining issues.

More than 16,000 frail older Kansans rely on Medicaid to pay for their long-term care, and the number will increase in years ahead. They deserve the best care that we can provide. It is in this spirit that we have and will continue to work with the state to ensure that the goals of KanCare are advanced.

DEBRA HARMON ZEHR

President and CEO

LeadingAge Kansas