KanCare starting ombudsman volunteer program in Wichita

The KanCare Ombudsman office, based in Topeka, is starting an ombudsman volunteer program in Kansas City, Johnson County and Wichita.

The KanCare Ombudsman office works with members and health care providers to answer questions about coverage, helps residents enroll in the program and assists with appeals or grievances about KanCare.

KanCare is a state-run program that administers Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income and disabled Kansans.

Members and residents will be able to visit in person with volunteers at the new sites. Kerrie Bacon, the KanCare ombudsman, mostly answers calls and e-mails from Kansans, rather than visiting with clients in person.

“What I’m doing is not as personal, and we wanted to be able to have a personal option for people,” Bacon said.

Right now, Bacon is the only KanCare ombudsman. She said she receives the most calls from Kansas City and Wichita, which is why KanCare decided to start the volunteer program in those areas.

The Wichita State University Center for Community Support and Research will host the volunteer site in Wichita. A release from Wichita State said the university encourages college students to apply. Volunteers are asked to give three to 10 hours per week.

A 30-hour training course for the three volunteer locations begins Aug. 1.

“We have people who have picked up applications, but we don’t have anyone signed up yet,” Bacon said.

More information about the program can be found at http://www.kancare.ks.gov/ombudsman.htm#volunteer.

This story was originally published June 28, 2015 at 2:24 PM with the headline "KanCare starting ombudsman volunteer program in Wichita."