Medicaid

What is Medicaid? Is largely a health insurance program for low-income and disabled people Covers health services for more than 300,000 Kansans Who does it cover? More than half of the people covered are children Children, pregnant women, low income families, Adults with dependent children don't qualify unless they earn less than 30% of the Federal Poverty Level, about $5,600 a year for a family of three What does it cost? Costs $2.8 billion for next year (2 nd largest expense in state budget)

Changes are coming to Medicaid in Kansas and the Governor's office says it will mean millions of dollars in savings. The Governor announced Medicaid will be changing, renaming it KanCare. Private medical firms will bid and contract for service with the state. Governor Brownback says that change will save Kansas approximately $350 million. The Governor says there will be incentives to keep costs low and other medical providers say their services will need to be tailored to those low costs.

A new year bring possibly new changes to Medicaid.  And families who count on Medicaid for loved ones with developmental disabilities are concerned about what the changes could mean. That's why they're holding a meeting Saturday to ask questions. Representatives for Governor Sam Brownback will be at the meeting to discuss managed care for Medicaid, waivers and possible changes for those with developmental disabilities. The meeting will be at Gracepoint Church at 2:30 p.m.  The church is located at 9034 West Central in the Westlink Shopping Center.  The meeting is being hosted by ACT of South Central Kansas.

Lt.Governor Jeff Colyer (R) came to a public meeting Thursday to hear from over 200 people on changes to Medicaid. The program is a state health insurance program that covers about 280,000 Kansans, including the disabled and low income families. The Lt Governor said that the program has seen a growing number of dependents and demand for services. “About 280,000 Kansans are on Medicaid, that number is growing dramatically over the last couple of years. The other thing is the number of expenditures is about $2.8 billion dollars,” said Colyer.

A group of about 100 people attended a town hall meeting in Wichita Tuesday to talk about Governor Brownback's proposed changes to Medicaid. People affected by the changes are scheduled to discuss the impact to mental health, aging, education, as well as MRDD services.    Changes to Medicaid questioned at town hall meeting Some speakers at the program say they are worried about...

By Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) Prosecutors say more than $4 million of Medicaid funds paid for pain med prescriptions for patients at the Schneider Medical Clinic.  Testimony resumed Thursday morning in the trial of Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda. The couple is charged with overprescribing pain medications at their Haysville clinic, contributing to 21 patient deaths by overdose.  Federal prosecutors also say they can link another 47 overdose deaths to the clinic.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued an Executive Reorganization Order today that shifts the Kansas Health Policy Authority into the Division of Health Care Finance within the Department of Health and Environment. Governor Brownback said this reorganization order will save the State of Kansas $3 million in administrative costs in the next fiscal year. Under the direction of Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. and KDHE Secretary Dr. Bob Moser, the Division of Health Care Finance will be involved in redesigning Medicaid in the State of Kansas.

by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.) State budget cuts may force one Wichita man to quit his job. Over the last several weeks, we've told you about the different ways Medicaid cuts have impacted the disabled. Now those in wheelchairs are not getting the upgrades they need. Those who need the chairs say without them, they lose the chance to be productive citizens. "Most of our clients are active and spend all of their waking hours in their wheel chairs," said David Kemp with the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation.

By Alana Rocha (TOPEKA, Kan.) The Adam Herrman case has led many people to question the state's adoption procedures. We asked about the checks and balances that ensure a child will go to a safe home. We also wanted to know about the role SRS plays once a child is legally adopted. We called SRS in Topeka. While they told us they could not talk about this case specifically, we did learn about the general process. Kansas SRS Adoption Process Adoption is meant to give children a safe, permanent home.

By Michael Schwanke (WICHITA, Kan.) The Department of Justice calls dental chain's behavior "disgusting" and says Small Smiles will reimburse Medicaid for unnecessary procedures on children. FactFinder 12 first investigated Small Smiles Dental Clinic last year for performing unnecessary procedures on children, now the Department of Justice says investigative reports in media helped lead to a $24 million dollar settlement. "The most important thing is they stop doing it to other children.

A Cherryvale woman has pleaded guilty to charges of Medicaid fraud and will be ordered to repay more than $18,000. 38-year old Shannon Menzer pleaded guilty charges of unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program, making a false claim to the Medicaid program, conspiracy to make a false claim to the Medicaid program and two counts of making a false information Tuesday afternoon in Labette County District Court. Menzer's plea agreement requires her to repay $18,359.56 the Kansas Medicaid program.

Two Fredonia women pled no-contest Thursday to charges of Medicaid fraud and will repay nearly $5,000 to the Medicaid program. Deborah Diehl and Carolyn Kegg each pled no-contest to unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program, making a false claim to the Medicaid program and theft. As part of the plea, the defendants must pay $4,868.96 in restitution to the Kansas Medicaid program. Sentencing is scheduled for June 28 at 4 p.m. The State alleged that Diehl signed up to be a personal care attendant for her mother, Kegg.

Two more individuals have pled guilty to charges of Medicaid fraud and were ordered to pay restitution. 31 year old Becky Coda, of Independence, pled guilty to three counts of unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program, three counts of making false information, three counts of forgery, three counts of making a false claim to the Medicaid program, and three counts of conspiracy to commit theft. As part of Coda's plea, she must serve 45 days in jail and repay $13,061.16 to the Kansas Medicaid Program.

Two more individuals pled guilty today to charges of Medicaid fraud and were ordered to repay more than $23,000, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. Becky Coda, 31, of Independence, pled guilty to three counts of unlawful acts relating to the Medicaid program, three counts of making false information, three counts of forgery, three counts of making a false claim to the Medicaid program, and three counts of conspiracy to commit theft. All of the charges were felonies. As part of Coda's plea, she must serve 45 days in jail and repay $13,061.16 to the Kansas Medicaid Program.

A new year bring possibly new changes to Medicaid.  And families who count on Medicaid for loved ones with developmental disabilities are concerned about what the changes could mean. That's why they're holding a meeting Saturday to ask questions. Representatives for Governor Sam Brownback will be at the meeting to discuss managed care for Medicaid, waivers and possible changes for those with developmental disabilities. The meeting will be at Gracepoint Church at 2:30 p.m.  The church is located at 9034 West Central in the Westlink Shopping Center.  The meeting is being hosted by ACT of South Central Kansas.

A group of about 100 people attended a town hall meeting in Wichita Tuesday to talk about Governor Brownback's proposed changes to Medicaid. People affected by the changes are scheduled to discuss the impact to mental health, aging, education, as well as MRDD services.    Changes to Medicaid questioned at town hall meeting Some speakers at the program say they are worried about...

Changes are coming to Medicaid in Kansas and the Governor's office says it will mean millions of dollars in savings. The Governor announced Medicaid will be changing, renaming it KanCare. Private medical firms will bid and contract for service with the state. Governor Brownback says that change will save Kansas approximately $350 million. The Governor says there will be incentives to keep costs low and other medical providers say their services will need to be tailored to those low costs.