Legislative Update from JCDS

Your Monday Morning Update:

 

Remember my last Monday Morning Update, when I discussed that “arranged marriage” between S.R.S Secretary Rob Siedlecki and developmental disability providers?  Well, can you say the word “ANNULMENT”? 

 

This morning, the Governors office held a press conference announcing some major changes (and I do mean MAJOR)!

 

The announcement that resulted in our split-up was:

 

·         The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will cease to exist and will evolve into the Department for Children and Families.  The major focus of this department will be working with foster care, adoption, the juvenile justice system, parenting initiatives, and enhancing positive outcomes for children.  Secretary Siedlecki will be running this department.

 

·         The Department on Aging will be expanding in both name and realm of responsibility. It will become the Department on Aging and Human Services.   This new department will be responsible for all Home and Community-Based waivers (our DD waiver is one of these), state hospitals as well as the existing aging services. Shawn Sullivan, the current Secretary of the Department on Aging, will take the reins for this new department.  We have high hopes!

 

Unlike the “Kardashian” distraction, our marriage with S.R.S. lasted several months, was a bit touchy from the get-go but our breakup was due a simple reorganization of government.  Now, the question is- what do we do with the rings?

 

The other MAJOR change announced today is thatManaged Care is coming to Kansas! A third party will be paid to administer Kansas Medicaid (similar to an HMO). This is a vast, complicated, controversial and enormous undertaking that will affect the 350,000 individuals who participate in all Medicaid programs.  The HCBS/DD waiver will fall under this very large umbrella…so I’m going to hold off on spouting an opinion until I get additional information as to how this will actually affect us. 

 

Stay tuned and I’ll update you in my next Monday Morning Update about it. Right now, I just want to grab my hanky and cry a bit.  I’ll get back to you soon.

 

 

Warm Regards,

 

 

Lurena Mead 
JCDS Community Relations Manager

913.826.2212