Reminder: FY27 Medicaid Rates Available & Private Pay Reporting Best Practices
Final State Fiscal Year 2027 Medicaid nursing facility rates have been distributed to providers. If you have not yet reviewed your facility’s rates, they are also available in the Kansas Register on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.
As providers begin preparing quarterly reporting requirements, LeadingAge Kansas also encourages members to work closely with their finance and reimbursement staff to ensure private pay information is accurately reported on the quarterly bed tax assessment worksheet.
In recent legislative sessions, policymakers have referenced private pay data when discussing the future of the Medicaid rate add-on, questioning whether additional Medicaid funding is necessary when reported private pay rates appear to exceed Medicaid reimbursement. Through our review of the reporting process, LeadingAge Kansas identified significant inconsistencies in how providers were calculating and reporting private pay rates, making statewide comparisons difficult and potentially misrepresenting the true cost of providing care.
To help address these concerns, Bland & Associates presented a training session during the 2026 LeadingAge Kansas Spring Conference outlining recommended methodologies for reporting private pay rates and explaining why accurately reflecting the true cost of care is critical for future policy discussions.
If your organization has questions about reporting private pay data, needs assistance interpreting your FY27 rates, or would like additional resources to share with your leadership or board regarding reimbursement and Medicaid financing, LeadingAge Kansas is happy to help. Please reach out to Kylee Childs with any questions or for additional guidance.
HCBS Frail Elderly Waiver Waitlist Now in Effect
Effective July 6, 2026, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has implemented a waitlist for new applicants to the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver. A combination of increased demand for services and available funding has resulted in the need for the waitlist.
Individuals who were already in the eligibility process before July 6 will continue moving through the system without interruption. New applicants assessed on or after July 6 will be placed on the waitlist until waiver capacity becomes available.
KDADS has also implemented a crisis exception process that allows individuals meeting specific emergency criteria to bypass the waitlist. While this provides an important pathway for individuals in urgent situations, availability will continue to depend on overall waiver capacity and turnover as participants leave the program.
For providers, this development reinforces the importance of proactive financial planning. While not required by regulation, LeadingAge Kansas recommends that providers encourage prospective private pay residents who anticipate transitioning to the HCBS-FE Waiver to have approximately two years of private resources available before relying on waiver services. This best practice can help minimize payment disruptions and reduce the risk of difficult situations that could ultimately lead to involuntary discharge notices if waiver funding is not immediately available.
LeadingAge Kansas will continue advocating for adequate funding of the HCBS-FE Waiver to eliminate the waitlist while also working with KDADS to obtain meaningful data that accurately reflects where these services are being delivered, the demand for them, and the impact when services are unavailable.
If you encounter challenges with a resident currently receiving HCBS-FE services or with a resident needing to transition to the waiver, please contact Kylee Childs. LeadingAge Kansas will work with members to assist with case escalations and identify potential solutions when issues arise.
