Suzanne Wikle: Medicaid keeps adults healthy and employed

Many people get health insurance through their jobs, but for those who work in food service, retail or child care, the chances are high that their jobs don’t offer health insurance. In Kansas, very low-income parents and their children may receive health care coverage from KanCare, our name for Medicaid.

KanCare reform measures grab the attention of House, Senate committees

House Minority Leader Jim Ward, D-Wichita, testifies as a proponent to bringing the inspector general out of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the agency overseeing KanCare, and into the attorney generals office during a hearing with the House Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday afternoon. State Medicaid director Mike Randol testifies during Tuesday afternoon’s House Health and Human Services Committee as they discussed bringing the inspector general out of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the agency overseeing KanCare, and into the attorney generals office.

Editorial: KanCare problems never seem to end

… . The Jan. 13 letter was written by James Scott, CMS associate regional administrator for Medicaid and Children’s Health Operation, and he summarized the agency’s concerns: “The results of our on-site review confirm that Kansas is substantively out …

Will Brownback fill revenue pothole?

… that good (even great) politics and good government aren’t the same. Good government keeps the schools, roads, health care, and the poor taken care of. Good politics boils down to not inconveniencing your voter base. That’s something that is a …

Questions surround proposal to consolidate school health benefits

Little information is available on the potential effects for tens of thousands of teachers of consolidating their health insurance into a single statewide system. Gov. Sam Brownback included the health insurance proposal in his budget this week, in hopes of saving the state $40 million in fiscal 2018 and twice as much in years after that.

Manatt on Medicaid: Monthly Expansion Recap – January 2017

The Arkansas Health Reform Legislative Task Force met for the last time to approve its final report , which includes findings and recommendations on health coverage in Arkansas, including the finding that continuing Medicaid expansion would save the State $637 million from 2017 to 2021. The report also estimates that changes already underway, including capping some mental health benefits and allowing managed care organizations to manage dental benefits, will yield an additional $963 million in savings over the next five years.