Latest News

Summary of Medicaid proposals provided by the governor's office

Remaking Kansas Medicaid Proposals

On January 19, 2011 Governor Sam Brownback, Lt. Governor Jeff Coyler, M.D., Senate President Steve Morris, and House Speaker Mike O’Neal held a joint press conference to announce how they would work together to implement structural reform to state government. Lt. Governor Colyer said that members of the sub-cabinet would begin work on reforming the state’s Medicaid program and asked that stakeholders and citizens submit pilot projects and reform ideas based on three criteria; improving quality of care of Kansans receiving Medicaid, controlling the costs of the program, and long-lasting reforms of health care that improve the quality of health and wellness of Kansans. The call for proposals closed on February 28th with 64 citizens, stakeholders, and organizations submittingproposals containing over 120 recommendations for remaking the Medicaid program.

Expand Managed Care

KHPA received seven recommendations in this category including expanding managed care to the aged, blind, and disabled populations as well as the dual eligibles; expanding the PACE program to mid-size communities; comprehensive integrated physical-behavioral health management for special populations including foster care, SMI, ABD/LTC;and an ABD care management program SG county.

Care Coordination/Medical Home

KHPA received thirteen recommendations in this category including care coordination of hospital transitions for the elderly and disabled; improve health literacy of consumers; develop health coach programs; reinitiate ECM program; implement medical home model; care coordination bridging physical and behavioral health services; enhanced PCMH intervention using community health coaches matched to beneficiaries in cultural and linguistic characteristics; CMHCs serving as health homes for adults with SPMI and children with SED; and a pediatric medical home for children with special needs.

Fraud Prevention & Recovery

KHPA received three recommendations in this category including strengthening estate recovery processes; and using data analytics and predictive modeling to identify fraud and abuse potential incidents.

Utilization Management

KHPA received ten recommendations in this category including evaluation of increased use of institutional care; examination of denial of behavioral health services to beneficiaries with dual diagnoses; examination of hospice abuse risks; utilize natural occurring opportunities to educate beneficiaries on appropriate utilization of services; to evaluate hospitalization trends of beneficiaries on SED waiver; and introduction of price transparency to drive market-based consumer decisions

Consulting Services

KHPA received seven recommendations in this category including assistance flagging claims for presumptive disability applicants who become eligible for SSI; using health care data analytics to identify cost-savings opportunities; analysis of beneficiary risk, provider practice patterns, and implementation of a virtual medical home; and a population based analytic tool identifying individual care deviation from evidenced-based standards of best practice for behavioral health.

Pharmacy

KHPA received eleven recommendations in this category including PDL for antidepressants; expansion of step therapy; systematic review of the pharmacy benefit; medication therapy management; coverage of electronic medication compliance management devices; implementation of the Kansas behavioral health pharmacy management program; increase generic usage; prescriber education initiatives; mandate only Kansas retail pharmacies dispense medications to Kansas beneficiaries; utilize medication management programs reimbursing Kansas pharmacists for professional consultation services; and behavioral health pharmacy management.

Targeted Interventions

KHPA received seven recommendations in this category including instituting a wellness program in long term care facilities; chronic disease self-management program for the elderly; competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities; diabetic management for beneficiaries with disabilities; and targeted interventions for high risk beneficiaries for smoking cessation and weight loss.

Eligibility

KHPA received sixteen recommendations in this category including changing procedures related to assessment and plan of care for admission into long term care facilities; adding MediKan beneficiaries as an optional Medicaid group; expanding the HCBS waiver for select populations; service flexibility for HCBS-FE beneficiaries, review of presumptive disability determination process and criteria; reevaluation of waiver beneficiaries’ assessment scores; expanding Working Healthy and WORK; amend the SPA to adopt Community First Choice option; connect eligibility notification to income tax standard: to expand the Autism waiver capacity; and integrating Medicaid into the private insurance market.

Cost Sharing

KHPA received three recommendations in this category including tiered pharmacy copayments; and to levy copayments and premiums for Title 19 beneficiaries

Payment Reform

KHPA received twelve recommendations in this category including integration of the SCHIP population for behavioral health services; integration of Medicaid and Medicare for seniors; recalibrate inpatient and outpatient payments; eliminate payment for never events; examine reimbursement rates for mental health case management services; KS Newborn screening program sustained fee impact on Medicaid funding; mental health services consolidated spending; and an alternative revenue enhancements through HMO privilege fee.

Delivery System Restructuring

KHPA received seven recommendations in this category including formation of a primary care ACO; downsize the nursing home capacity and substitute a comprehensive set of long term services and supports in sparsely populated areas; to integrate services for the frail elderly including HUD housing, PACE, mobile clinic, and telehealth; and introducing consumer-directed plans in Medicaid.

Technological Integration

KHPA received six recommendations in this category including telemonitoring for targeted populations; connecting rural health providers to each other and to beneficiaries through use of secure messaging and initiating e-visits; and increase use of assistive technology in homes.

Benefit Changes

KHPA received seventeen recommendations in this category including coverage of medical nutrition therapy by registered dietitians; coverage of bariatric surgery as a treatment for weight loss for the chronically obese; adding community based services for target populations; coverage of weight reduction assistance in conjunction with bariatric surgery; full dental benefits for all Medicaid beneficiaries; broaden benefit package to include social support benefits; provide rehabilitation services in additional settings; provide coverage of habilitation services; and eliminate coverage of circumcision; and increasing benefit flexibility within Medicaid.

Administrative Reorganization

KHPA received two recommendations in this category including creating the Office of Integrated Community Services to administrate all HCBS services; and an agency modification.

Remaking Medicaid Call for Proposals Respondents

AARP Kansas

Action Pact Development LLC

Allergan, Inc.

Association of CMHCs of Kansas, Inc.

Capper Foundation

Care Management Technologies

Centpatico

Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, Inc.

Cerner Corporation

Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners

Crossroads Hospice of Kansas

Disability Rights Center of Kansas

Kansas Area Agencies on Aging Association

Kansas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

Kansas Citizens

Kansas Dietetic Association

Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living

Kansas Health Consumer Coalition

Kansas Health Solutions

Kansas Independent Pharmacy Service Corporation

Kansas Legal Services

March of Dimes Greater Kansas City Chapter

Medical Society of Sedgwick County

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers

North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging

Northrop Grumman

Nueterra Health Alliance

Oral Health Kansas

PBA Health

Policy Studies, Inc.

Providers

Remote Medication Management Systems

Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc.

Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Inc.

State Employees

Statewide Independent Living Councils of Kansas

Twin Valley Developmental Services, Inc.

UniCare

United Healthcare Community & State

University of Kansas Department of Family Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Preventive Medicine

University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Independent Living

Value Options, Inc.

Vivius

Windsor Place At-Home Care

This story was originally published April 7, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Summary of Medicaid proposals provided by the governor's office."

Related Stories from Wichita Eagle
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER