Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

TOPEKA — A Wichita lawmaker has introduced a bill that would remove long-term care services for the developmentally disabled from Gov. Sam Brownback's plan to expand Medicaid managed care.

Rep. Jim Ward introduced House Bill 2457 earlier this week and announced it today.

"The Brownback administration appears to be on the fast track to the privatization of Medicaid," Ward said in a prepared statement. "Regardless of what happens with the governor's plan, it is important that any reform efforts are deliberate and implemented safely. We must ensure that critical services for our most vulnerable citizens are not jeopardized."

Under the KanCare initiative first announced Nov. 8 by administration officials, Kansas Medicaid services would be contracted out to three private companies.

The governor's plan would expand Medicaid managed care to include the developmentally disabled, the elderly and the mentally ill. The plan has drawn qualified endorsements from advocates for the mentally ill and the state's leading doctor and hospital groups. But it has met stiff resistance from families and advocates for the developmentally disabled.

Ward's bill would allow medical services provided to the developmentally disabled to be included the governor's plan but would exclude the day-to-day living assistance provided to the disabled.

Several people spoke against that portion of the plan on Thursday during a hearing held by the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

They faulted the plan for not doing anything to eliminate the current waiting list for services. They also said it was moving forward too quickly and was untested.

Currently, there are 4,800 developmentally disabled Kansans on a waiting list for services.

"The administration is unclear as to how this backlog will be addressed under the KanCare contracts," Ward said.

Ward represents the 88th House District in southeast Wichita. He is the ranking minority member on the House Education Committee and is a member of the House committees on Judiciary and Health & Human Services.