Kansas expands support for brain injury patients

Medicaid support for people with brain injuries has been expanded to include those acquired through internal forces, such as strokes or tumors, following years of advocacy for change.

A quirk in Kansas’ Medicaid statute had meant the only patients to qualify were those with a traumatic brain injury from a blow to the head. But a bipartisan coalition of Kansas legislators approved changes to the law and, as of July 1, acquired brain injuries from events such as strokes, tumors and asthma attacks, are now included, the Kansas City Star reported .

The lawmakers also voted to expand services to children under 16, but that won’t go into effect until October, giving the state time to determine what services the youths need.