Parents and guardians of developmentally disabled Topekans question Governor Sam Brownback's proposal to make changes to Medicaid. Many of the parents want the Governor to slow down before going any further.
TARC held a town hall meeting Thursday night at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library to give parents and guardians a chance to ask questions about the proposal. The Governor's plan includes a manage care system called KanCare.
Department On Aging Secretary Shawn Sullivan says it's an umbrella system made up of three insurance providers that would help coordinate services to Medicaid users. He believes it will provide better outcomes and lower costs for tax payers. Sullivan says it would, "Decrease hospital utilization, decrease impatient utilization, emergency room visits, do a better job with re-admissions to the hospitals, do a better job with follow ups once they go home."
Concerned parent Ronda Klein says, "Manage care works in some areas of Medicaid fairly well in other states, but there's not a good model anywhere. When you're talking about human beings, individuals who can't defend themselves, I just think it's too much."
Representatives from TARC suggest parents and guardians take their concerns to, not only legislators, but straight to Governor Brownback's office.
Medicaid currently serves 383,000 Kansans. Sullivan says the proposed plan would keep providers and case managers in place.
