Kansas To Overhaul Medicaid

Prompted by rising costs that squeeze the
state budget, Kansas plans to overhaul its Medicaid program –
something making advocates for the needy and health care providers
nervous.
Republican governor Sam Brownback’s administration promises that
its changes will achieve the savings without reducing coverage for
the disabled, elderly or poor families or cutting payments to the
doctors, hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Brownback and his
top advisers contend Kansas can avoid ugly choices made in other
states by managing care better and more aggressively promoting
healthy living.
Legislators and advocacy groups agree with the goals and see
some promise in the initiative. But some remain skeptical that the
changes will deliver the pledged savings in one of state
government’s biggest annual expenditures. They say they’re nervous
because they’re uncertain about how the changes will play out,
particularly because Medicaid would be managed through private
contractors.