By Andy Marso

State officials have cancelled a series of forums that were to be held next week to allow the public to comment on reduced payments to those who serve patients on Kansas Medicaid, or KanCare.

A letter sent Tuesday expressed regret that the meetings in Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita, Pittsburg and Dodge City would not take place.

“Instead we are using this letter to tell KanCare members more about the provider payment rate reductions and we are asking for your feedback if you would like to let us know you(r) thoughts on this matter,” the letter says.

The letter directs those who want to comment on the reductions to email [email protected].

Angel de Rocha, a spokeswoman for state agencies, said soliciting public comment by letter and accepting it by email would give each KanCare member a greater opportunity to weigh in.

“We believe more of our consumers will receive this information that way, directly, than would be able to attend and hear about it in a public meeting, and that the letter method more thoroughly and effectively meets our obligation to keep them informed and up to date about what is going on with KanCare,” de Rocha said via email.

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The nonprofit KHI News Service is an editorially independent initiative of the Kansas Health Institute and a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor reporting collaboration.