The state of Kansas is now four months into a bold experiment: the privatization of its Medicaid services. Under the new KanCare program, three for-profit companies now provide services to poor and elderly Kansans who qualify for Medicaid benefits. But one group - those with intellectual and developmental disabilities – are getting only some of their services from KanCare.
Their medical and mental health needs are covered by the new system. But the support services they need to help them live independently are still being provided by a network of nonprofit organizations. And many parents of developmentally disabled Kansans want to keep it that way. More from Jim McLean, of the KHI News Service.
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