Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major changes with Kansas Medicaid?
- Name change to KanCare
- Person-centered care coordination
- Clearer accountability
- Agency streamlining
- Financing consolidation
When will these changes take effect?
The state will issue the Request for Proposal on Wednesday November 9, 2011. The deadline for proposals to be submitted is set for January 2012. KanCare will take effect in January 2013.
Most of the changes KanCare will bring entail partnerships, engagement, and even new business relationships in the Medicaid provider community. These innovations at the ground level will be KanCare’s true legacy. The RFP anticipates a steady but intense period of change over the next three years, with corresponding increases in expected patient outcomes and savings.
How will improved health outcomes be achieved?
The State of Kansas Medicaid program will provide superior service by implementing an integrated model of care that focuses on the whole person. Through the contracting process, the state will require bidders to create health homes centered around consumers’ core provider and to undergird these health homes with technology, funding, person centered care coordination and communication required to engage the consumer and improve their care.
The Administration has identified specific outcomes to be achieved for various population groups within Kansas Medicaid. The state is also looking for the best ideas in the industry, so we expect managed care organizations to put forth additional ideas on how to achieve meaningful improvements to consumer health.
We are crafting ironclad agreements with MCOs, beginning with this RFP, and culminating in signed contracts that establish enforceable outcomes. These reforms create the first ever set of comprehensive goals and targeted outcomes in Kansas Medicaid. These new standards exceed Federal requirements and set Kansas on a path to historic improvement and efficiency.
Have other states moved forward with similar program models?
Kansas is drawing from the best examples from around the country and expects to become a national leader in performance-oriented strategic purchasing of Medicaid services. Other states have used similar models: Texas, Tennessee, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Kansas does expect to be on the leading edge when it comes to implementing a whole person centered model of care that looks at all aspects and needs of Medicaid consumers and not viewing their needs in silos.
Why is it important that all populations be “carved in”?
Services for all Kansans served by Medicaid will be incorporated into the KanCare system so that the benefits of care coordination will be available to them.
Contractors will be accountable for functional as well as physical and behavioral health outcomes. Providing Kansans with developmental disabilities enhanced care coordination will improve access to services supporting independence as well as health services and continue to reduce a the disparity in life expectancy while preserving services that improve quality of life.
Will the state continue to contract with existing providers?
The KanCare RFP mandates contractors to use established community partners, including hospitals, physicians, community mental health centers (CMHCs), primary care and safety net clinics, centers for independent living (CILs), area agencies on aging (AAAs), and community developmental disability organizations (CDDOs).
The state will continue to use CDDOs and other provider groups in their statutorily established role.
With these changes, will consumers be partnered with the same care manager they have today?
Person-centered care coordination is not something that currently happens in Kansas. Care managers should have the social service, behavioral health and physical health background to coordinate all these providers to best serve Kansans.
Managed Care Organizations are being mandated in the RFP to partner with established community partners, so some case managers may become care managers. However, even if your care manager DOES change, this person will still be required to meet with you and your family and provide services to meet your individual needs.
Will KanCare result in cost savings?
Over five years, the state expects to reduce growth in Kansas Medicaid spending by 8-10 percent, which equates to 1/3 reduction in total Medicaid growth.