The Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight met October 6–7 to hear testimony from providers, advocates, state agencies, and managed care organizations on a variety of Medicaid issues.
Key topics included HCBS waiver waiting lists, reimbursement rates, workforce challenges, managed care prior authorizations and payment denials, and oversight of KanCare services.
Following two days of testimony, the committee approved several recommendations related to aging services, including:
- HCBS Waiting Lists: Recommend funding to eliminate the Frail Elderly (FE) waiver waiting list.
- Resident Rights: Recommend statutory changes requiring adult care home residents to receive information about their rights from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
- Pharmacy Choice: Recommend House Insurance Committee review pharmacy provider of choice bill from the long term care ombudsman
- Reimbursement Rates: Explore options for achieving rate parity between self-directed and agency-directed HCBS services and recommend increasing I/DD and Technology Assisted (TA) waiver rates to $60 per hour.
- Managed Care Accountability: Require additional reporting on prior authorizations when payments are delayed, denied, or reduced.
- Waiver Assessments: Recommend reducing duplicative annual assessments and further reviewing assessment practices for children receiving TA waiver services.
These recommendations will help inform legislative discussions and budget priorities during the 2027 Kansas Legislative Session. LeadingAge Kansas will continue monitoring these issues, particularly those affecting long-term care providers and the older adults they serve.
