State, feds settle Medicaid dispute

Here are today’s headlines from Kansas government:(Kansas Health Institute News Service) State, feds settle Medicaid dispute: State and federal health officials have reached an agreement that’s expected to end a series of long-standing disputes over how the state runs its Medicaid programs. In exchange for significant changes in how some services are funded, the agreement means the state won’t have to pay back millions of federal dollars that may have been misspent, Marcia Nielsen, executive director of the Kansas Health Policy Authority, told members of the House Social Services Budget Committee on Tuesday. The agreement reached between the health policy authority and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services assumes the state will pay back $37.5 million in Medicaid payments to special education programs dating back to 2003.(LJW) Virginia Tech massacre renews gun debate: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday ordered flags to be flown at half-staff because of the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech. Meanwhile, the incident has renewed debate in the U.S. about concealed-carry weapons laws. Guns are not allowed on the Virginia Tech campus. Kansas has a concealed-carry gun law, but that law still forbids carrying concealed weapons in any “community college, college or university facility.”(6News Lawrence) Ban to face challenge: Lawrence’s smoking ban will soon face its stiffest legal challenge as the Kansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case next week.(LJW) Fixing colleges will cost lots of dough: As state leaders fight over how to pay for $663 million in repairs to crumbling college classrooms, some students tried selling cookies and candy.(LJW) Education commissioner finalists selected: The Kansas State Board of Education has selected five finalists for the education commissioner job and will interview those candidates during a special meeting next week.(AP) Capitol renovation costs spur grumbling: When workers finish with a Statehouse corner or wing, the results can be impressive. But after seven years of planning and construction, the top-to-bottom renovation is impressive for another reason — its rising costs.(LJW) Sebelius to sign bill allowing tax increase for KU: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says she will sign into law a bill that could allow a tax increase in Johnson County to help Kansas University.