Governor Sam Brownback speaks during the KanCare announcement, flanked by Secretary for Aging and Disability Services Shawn Sullivan. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)Governor Sam Brownback’s administration has been working on a plan to make sweeping changes to Medicaid in Kansas. Today (FRI), the federal government gave the go ahead to the overhaul. The proposed KanCare program required federal approval because the federal government pays for a bulk of the services. Brownback says the new program will be able to save money without cutting services, and will add some benefits, like expanded dental care.
The changes will place most Medicaid recipients into managed care programs run by private contractors. KanCare is set to launch January 1 st. Some advocacy groups have questioned if the process is moving too fast and if Medicaid recipients will be ready for the changes.