January 7, 2013 Legislative Update
January 7, 2013
January 1st ushered in a brand new year as well as a brand new Medicaid program. Just like 2013, KanCare has now gone “live.”
I’m curious as to how KanCare is working for you. Are you happy with your experience so far? Are qualified providers available? Was there a seamless transition from the old to the new? I’d love to hear the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m all ears!
Several months ago during the KanCare meetings, it was stated time and time again, that you would be able to keep your current doctor under the new KanCare plan, if that doctor had signed on with your Managed Care Organization (MCO). If your doctor had chosen not to sign on, then your MCO would work with you to find that “oh so perfect” health care provider.
That may be happening in some cases, but not always. I’ve heard of an eight year old boy that was assigned a gynecologist as his primary care physician and another person that was assigned a doctor whose practice was 35 miles away in a different city.
If your experiences haven’t been exactly positive, the State has created a new position for KanCare called an “ombudsman”. The parent of a child with a developmental disability, James Bart, was hired to represent the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints. As a one man show, his job is to ensure that the 383,000 folks who have been switched over to KanCare get their problems addressed. I wish him well (along with an enormous amount of patience, No Doz and good luck)!
If you are having trouble, don’t hesitate to contact James at 855-643-8180 or email him at [email protected].
Brace yourself, as the new Kansas Legislature shines their shoes and puts gas in their cars for the start of the 2014 session in Topeka next week. Since this is the largest freshman class in the history of Kansas, I’m not sure what to expect, the merry-go-round or the rollercoaster. Hang on!
Warm regards,
Lurena Mead
JCDS Community Relations Manager
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