KDHE will hold public meetings regarding the state’s proposed renewal of the KanCare program, and to provide input and ideas for changes. Anyone may provide comment and input about the KanCare renewal at any time from June 14, 2017 until October 15, 2017. The state will submit the renewal request to CMS on November 1, 2017. There will be a second set of meetings in fall 2017 to collect formal comments about the waiver renewal application.
Information about KanCare is available for public review at the KanCare website. Materials for these meetings are being made available at the same link as they are prepared. Written comments about KanCare renewal may be sent to this email address: kdhe.kancarerenewal@ks.gov; or may be mailed to: KanCare Renewal, c/o Becky Ross, KDHE-Division of Health Care Finance, 900 SW Jackson, LSOB – 9thFloor, Topeka, Kansas, 66612.
The renewal of KanCare is designed to continue the program, for an additional five years and will incorporate some changes as well as maintain some of the original features of the program. The following lists some of the changes being considered:
- Improved and expanded care coordination
- Value-based purchasing, including opportunities for shared savings and payment for outcomes
- The way individuals with a spenddown will be affected
- Reinvestment of savings into HCBS waiting lists
- Incentivizing integrated settings, including employment
Information about the KanCare renewal process and related documents will be maintained and kept current throughout both the public input process. Once the draft renewal application is posted, KDHE will host a round of public comment meetings and have a formal public comment period, during which the Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) will review and act upon the state’s extension request. This information will continue to be available at the KanCare Renewal page of the KanCare website. In addition, once the request to renew the KanCare program is submitted to CMS, it will be posted by CMS on its website for viewing and commenting.
Public meetings about the KanCare renewal will be held on June 14th – Topeka, June 15th – Olathe, June 17th – Olathe, June 19th – Dodge City, June 20th – Hays, June 28th – Wichita. See full schedule.
