By DAVE RANNEY
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services next week will convene a series of informational sessions on its efforts to renew the waivers that define the state’s Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services for frail seniors, people with physical and developmental disabilities, and those who’ve suffered traumatic brain injuries.

The Kansas Medicaid program was privatized and renamed KanCare in 2013. It’s administered by three managed care companies.

Waiver services for Kansans with developmental disabilities were not included in KanCare until January of this year due to initial opposition from family members and advocates.

The meetings are open to the public. The schedule:

• 10 a.m.–noon Nov. 12, Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th, Wichita.

• 10 a.m.–noon Nov. 13, Ambassador Hotel, 3603 Vine St., Hays.

• 10 a.m.–noon Nov. 14, Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 200 McDonald Drive, Lawrence.

Preliminary information about the meetings is posted on the KDADS website. Angela de Rocha, a spokesperson for the agency, said additional information will be posted next week.

The purpose of the meetings, she said, is to inform the public about how recent changes in federal rules — made within the past five years — may affect services in Kansas.

The changes are expected to touch on employment opportunities for the disabled, minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for attendant care workers, and less institutional community-based placements — for example, group homes.

It’s not yet clear whether the proposed waivers will include changes that could lead to reductions in services.

“We’re encouraging everyone — consumers, family members, and any and all stakeholders — to be in attendance, absolutely,” said Tim Wood, director of the Community Developmental Disability Organization of Johnson County. “It’s critical that people engage with the state and attempt to better system for the end user, which, of course, is the consumer.”

The waivers that govern the state’s Medicaid-funded services for the frail elderly, physically and developmentally disabled, and traumatic brain-injured expire Dec. 31. The informational sessions are part of the renewal process.

The waiver-renewal process requires KDADS to solicit public input on each of the proposed waivers. It also allows the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to temporarily extend the waivers.

Kansas’ waivers for the brain-injured and the developmentally disabled expired June 30 but were extended to Dec. 31.

“We don’t know for sure at this point, but it’s looking like at least some of the information that’s going to be provided next week will be of very high interest for people with disabilities, advocates, family members and direct support workers,” said Mike Oxford, executive director at the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center. “This could affect all those groups.”

WAKEENEY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 2 p.m. on Saturday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 International diesel semi pulling a Wabash trailer and driven by Denis Palamarchuk, 32, Portland OR., was eastbound on Interstate 70 in the driving lane. The semi rear-ended a 1997 Toyota pickup driven by James A. Kohl, 68, Ellis.

The Toyota traveled across the median and both westbound lanes coming to rest in the north ditch facing southwest remaining upright on all 4 wheels.

Kohl was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Palamarchuk was not injured.

The KHP reported Kohl was not wearing a seat belt.

A Midwest Energy crew responded to a cut natural gas line Saturday afternoon.

Midwest spokesman Mike Morley said there was only minor damage when the 1-inch residential service line was cut in the area of 17th and Milner streets, noting a single crew made necessary repairs.

Morley stressed the importance of calling ahead before digging.

“It’s important that folks call 811 prior to any digging work, even something as shallow as planting a tree,” he said. “The call sends folks out at no charge to the homeowner to locate all underground water, gas, electric and communications lines in the area. This lets folks dig safely and not risk damaging services to their or their neighbors’ property.”

WAKEENEY- Two people were injured in an accident just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in Trego County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy Malibu driven by Autumn S. Barricks, 18, Atchison, was eastbound on Interstate 70 two miles west of WaKeeney in the passing lane.

The vehicle crossed into the lane of a 2008 Toyota driven by Lenka Sarver, 41, Colorado Springs. The Toyota swerved to avoid the Chevy, entered the south ditch and rolled.

Sarver and a child in the vehicle were transported to Trego County Hospital.

Barricks was not injured.

The KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

FHSU University Relations

The Department of Music and Theatre at Fort Hays State University continues its 2014-15 season with Christopher Durang’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” from Thursday to Sunday, Nov. 13 to Nov.16, in the Felten-Start Theatre in Malloy Hall.

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16.

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” is a winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and every other major award of the 2013 Broadway season. The story begins with Vanya living peacefully with his adopted sister in a quiet life in the Pennsylvania farmhouse where they grew up. The drama begins when their lives are disrupted by their movie-star sister and her new boy toy.

Tickets for individual performances are $15 for the public and $10 for students K-12, for FHSU students with valid student ID, and for seniors age 55 and up.