Brownback at a news conference with Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)Governor Sam Brownback has unveiled his executive order rearranging the state agencies that handle Medicaid. That program provides health care for more than 350,000 low-income, aged and disabled Kansans. Brownback’s plan would consolidate all Medicaid operations into two departments and hire private organizations to manage patient care.
The goal is to save money without hurting patient care. Some lawmakers are concerned the process is moving too fast. Paul Davis, of Lawrence, is the top Democrat in the House.
The governor’s executive order will go into effect July 1st if the Legislature takes no action. Brownback also named social worker and former state Representative Phyllis Gilmore to head the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. Former SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki stepped down at the end of last year to take a position with the state of Florida.