Advocates for Kansans with disabilities are urging legislators to adopt Governor Sam Brownback’s proposal to reduce the number of people on the waiting list for Medicaid services. Currently, about 5,000 Kansans with developmental and physical disabilities are on the list. Brownback wants to spend an additional $18 million to provide services to approximately 600 of them. Advocates are using a video to help make their case to lawmakers. It features parents of disabled Kansans and some of the caseworkers who are trying to help them gain access to services. Caseworker Bruce Daldrup says the wait is taking a toll on families.
The waiting list proposal is one of several budget and tax issues that lawmakers will attempt to resolve when they return on Wednesday to wrap up the 2013 session.