Brownback announces public forums for input on Medicaid overhaul

Medicaid forums

Topeka: Wednesday, June 22, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Kansas Expocentre, Maner Conference Center.

Wichita: Thursday, July 7, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at a location to be announced.

Dodge City: Friday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at the United Wireless Arena, Magouirk Conference Center

Because of limited seating, the governor’s office has requested those wanting to attend to sign up on one of the following links:

Topeka: https://www.dhe.state.ks.us/Community/se.ashx?s=11B9BDC92B72B9B6

Wichita: https://www.dhe.state.ks.us/Community/se.ashx?s=11B9BDC93E4CE00F

Dodge City: https://www.dhe.state.ks.us/Community/se.ashx?s=11B9BDC91E57F2FF

People can also RSVP by contacting Alisha Kirby in the lieutenant governor’s office at (785) 296-2213 or by emailing rsvp@ks.gov. Please indicate which meeting by including the name of the city in the subject line.

Topeka ? An overhaul by Gov. Sam Brownback of the $2.8 billion taxpayer-funded Medicaid program is in the works.

On Monday, Brownback’s point man on the effort, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, announced there will be three public forums on Medicaid, the first being next week in Topeka.

“It is essential to Governor Brownback and me that we receive guidance from Kansans while we work to reform our state’s Medicaid system,” Colyer said.

“These forums will provide Kansans from across the state the opportunity to give their input about health care in their communities. We look forward to working collaboratively with our fellow Kansans to find Kansas solutions for Kansas health care needs,” he said.

Medicaid is the federal-state funded program that provides health and long-term care services to several groups of low-income Kansans, including children, pregnant women, families, the elderly and those with disabilities.

The number of people served by Medicaid in Kansas has increased approximately 33 percent in the past decade to more than 300,000, or 12 percent of the state’s population.

Colyer is leading a Medicaid working group that includes Kansas Department on Aging Secretary Shawn Sullivan, Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Secretary Rob Siedlecki, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Robert Moser, Budget Director Steve Anderson, and Kansas Health Policy Authority Director Andy Allison.

Moser, a physician, said the administration wants to make Medicaid more effective.

“This effort is not just about cost savings. The ability to more effectively purchase and administer health care builds a better Kansas with stronger families and a growing economy,” Moser said.

The meetings will be in Topeka on June 22, in Wichita on July 7 and in Dodge City on July 8.

The Medicaid working group will launch within a few weeks a Web-based tool for Kansans to submit comments and ideas. A final conference will take place in August.

The forums and consultation process are being funded by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas Health Foundation, the REACH Healthcare Foundation, the Sunflower Foundation, and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.