As hundreds protest at the State Capitol, Kansas Gov. agrees to delay in changes to disability services

Gov. Sam Brownback's plan would have moved thousands of developmentally disabled state residents into a managed-care health plan.

Kansas City Star: Kansas Governor Relents On Managed Health Care For The Disabled
In the face of hundreds of protesters outside the Capitol on Wednesday, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback agreed to delay plans to move thousands of developmentally disabled into a managed-care health plan. Brownback, along with Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, said they would agree to a legislative plan that would keep the developmentally disabled in the state Medicaid program for a year to give them more time to increase their comfort level (Cooper, 4/25).

Kansas Health Institute: Hundreds Protest Inclusion Of Disability Services In KanCare
Hundreds of developmentally disabled people and their advocates gathered today outside the Statehouse to protest the inclusion of long-term care services in KanCare, Gov. Sam Brownback's Medicaid makeover plan. ... Among the concerns about the KanCare plan is that service providers already operate on tight margins, said Jerry Michaud, chief executive at Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. Contracting with managed care companies could lead to staff shake-ups and providers being driven out of business. ... Speakers at the rally -; including Sen. Dick Kelsey, a Goddard Republican -; said non-medical services, such as transportation and assistance with daily living, should not be thrust into KanCare (Cauthon, 4/25).

Kansas Health Institute: Brownback Responds To DoJ Investigation
"Not only is Kansas in full compliance with all federal requirements, we have a strong history as an innovator in the delivery of home- and community-based services to those with physical disabilities since the waiver programs began in the 1980's," the governor said in a prepared statement. The statement signaled that the Brownback administration does not intend to retreat from the threat of a possible federal lawsuit over complaints from disabled persons about Kansas' growing waiting list for home and community based services for the disabled (Shields, 4/25).