Event Recap — Exploring Medicaid Populations: Reaching Individuals Who Are Unhoused

4 Min Read

Dec 09, 2025

By

Sheena L. Schmidt, M.P.P., Emma Uridge, M.P.H.
A promotional graphic for the Kansas Health Institute's (KHI) Policy Series. The graphic features a dark gray panel on the left with a white U.S. Capitol icon above the text "KHI POLICY SERIES." Below, the Kansas Health Institute's logo and tagline, "Informing Policy. Improving Health." are displayed. On the right, large bold blue text reads "Exploring Medicaid in Kansas" against a light beige background. The website "khi.org" appears in the bottom right corner.

On Dec. 9, KHI held the fourth session of the 2025 KHI Policy Series, Exploring Medicaid Populations: Reaching Individuals Who Are Unhoused. The final session in the series focused on strategies that can be used in Medicaid for reaching individuals who are unhoused. This session explored the unique challenges faced by unhoused populations in accessing health care and the critical role of Medicaid in addressing their needs. It examined innovative approaches in Kansas and other states, such as outreach programs, care coordination and partnerships with housing services, to improve health outcomes and stability for individuals who are unhoused. 

Event recording posted below.

Event Highlights

  • Examined current KanCare systems and barriers to enrollment for individuals experiencing homelessness. 
  • Explored cross-sector partnerships between Medicaid, housing and behavioral health services. 
  • Discovered strategies from Kansas and other states on coordinated outreach and care models. 
  • Heard from policymakers, advocates and practitioners on strengthening access and service delivery. 

Speakers

State Perspective
  • Jonathan Pendergrass, Housing & Employment Benefits Program Manager, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Managed Care Organizations 
  • Stephanie Cline, L.M.F.T., L.M.A.C., B.C.P.C., C.P.T., Sr. Clinical Program Manager Housing, United Health Care
  • David Fields, M.B.A., Housing Resource Specialist, Sunflower Health Plan
  • Elizabeth (Beth) Russell, M.A., L.C.P.C., L.P.C., Housing Program Manager, Healthy Blue Kansas
Community Perspectives 
  • Becky Gray, M.A., Executive Director, Building Health, Inc.
  • Molly Mendenhall, L.M.S.W., Director of Statewide Initiatives, Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition
  • Doug Wallace, ESG/HOME-ARP Program Manager, Kansas Housing Resources Corporation

This event is a part of a four-part series. 

About Kansas Health Institute

The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

Learn More About KHI