In a statement issued in Johnson County last week, Governor Brownback announced that thanks to the savings of KanCare, there would now be money to help clean up one of the nations worst waiting lists. How bad? Take it from someone who knows.. the current waiting list for our son sits at 7 years. (yes, 7 years from now he can get services)
Brownback's announcement:
Gov. Sam Brownback proposed more funding Friday to reduce waiting lists for home- and community-based services.
At a support center for Johnson County residents with disabilities, Brownback said he will ask legislators to add an additional $9.2 million in all funds for the fiscal year that begins in July. He said that would bring the three-year total of money proposed to be devoted to reducing the waiting lists to $52.6 million.
The fresh appropriation would come from savings realized by switching Medicaid to a managed care program called "KanCare" administered by three private insurance companies.
"Reducing the disability waiting lists has been a priority of my administration for the past three years," Brownback said. "The savings we have achieved through KanCare are allowing us to accomplish this much more quickly than anticipated. This is good news for the individuals and families who need these services."
Brownback made his announcement in Lenexa at the Johnson County Community Developmental Disability Organization, one of the regional hubs that coordinates the Medicaid waiver services Kansans with disabilities are awaiting.
Rocky Nichols, of the Disability Rights Center, said the announcement was a positive, but not quite what he was hoping for.
"This is about roughly half the amount of new money that was added last year," Nichols said. "That is a good step forward and we applaud the state for taking that step forward, but we were hopeful we'd be taking a full step and not a half step this year, but progress is always good."
The governor's proposal must be vetted by the Legislature, which is set to return to the Statehouse next week and finalize the budget for the fiscal year that begins in July. Nichols also said it was unclear just how much new money the governor was proposing for the waiting lists, because it depends on the fate of dollars the Legislature approved last year for one of the lists and has since considered taking back.
Angela de Rocha, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said the $52.6 million figure depends on the Legislature following through on appropriations for next year but said "no one opposes" them.
In an interview earlier this week, Nichols said lawmakers should seek to maintain momentum for eliminating the lists.
http://www.cjonline.com/...
Well, that seems great, of course.. But it also seems as though something is wrong with this picture..
From those inside of JoCo Mental Health:
I’m a bit perplexed and befuddled (so what else is new?). I need your help in sorting things out. Let me set the stage:
JCDS gets a call Wednesday afternoon announcing that Governor Brownback is going to stop in for a Friday afternoon visit. He has some BIG news to share. We discover that he intends to publicize that due to the savings from KanCare, he is going to be adding money to his Governor’s Budget Amendment (GBA) for the IDD waiting list.
We are thrilled and get busy making arrangements, finding a podium and setting up chairs. We are so excited about what he may say. Knowing that there are thousands on the waiting lists, we anticipate that his announcement will be powerful and give people access to something they have been waiting on for years!
As the time comes and the room at JCDS is packed with the Governor’s people, County officials, a handful of legislators, staff and a few providers, the Governor stands at the podium and makes his announcement:
The Governor is going to ask the legislature to approve that $2.6 million go towards waiting lists.
After a little figuring, it appears that the IDD underserved list will go away, 77 folks from the statewide IDD unserved list and 132 from the physically disabled list will be offered funding.
So my dilemma is - 77 people….really?
On one hand – The underserved waiting list is ending
On the other hand – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it must go away
On the other hand – But what about the 3,000 on the unserved list that have been waiting?
On the other hand – Then again, 77 is better than nothing
On the other hand – The waiting list grows by hundreds each year
On the other hand – We are fortunate that any money has been allocated
On the other hand – Over 400 folks from Johnson County are on that unserved list
On the other hand –Perhaps ten or twelve offered will be from Johnson County
On the other hand – I should be grateful
On the hand – I’m saddened and disappointed. I expected more.
As my dad would say “It is what it is”, but I have to say to myself “Is it what it should be?” And therein lies my dilemma.
So now I’m handing it off to you….what do YOU think?
So, while Brownback announces a plan to serve 77 people (and 132 who are physically disabled who would be required services so that is not a new funding initiative) the waiting list of hundreds.. just in Johnson County, and thousands state wide continues.
More importantly, The National Medicaid/Medicare agencies had pointed out to Kansas before that waiting lists for Medicaid/Medicare recipients of federal funding would no longer be allowed, so the state -had- to do it.
Brownback took to the stage to announce funding for exactly 77 people who wouldn't receive funding otherwise.
Individuals the state was already receiving federal benefits for.
Individuals that that the federal agencies told Kansas they had to provide for immediately.
77 Individuals.
I checked today.
The waiting list is still expected to be 7 years. Maybe longer, because more facilities in Kansas who have switched to KanCare are allowed to prefer private-pay residents.
Don't get me wrong. I'm very happy for those 77 People. It's great news for them, no matter where they are in the state. I'm happy for the 132 people who have physical disabilities who found out that the state will follow the law and help them.
A midwest Governor held a major press event to provide a rah-rah for his campaign that he helped 77 people.
While thousands found out today the waiting list for them is not moving at all.. and if it is, it may be moving the wrong direction.