Sometimes, Silence is NOT Golden! In Preparation For the Inclusion of IDD Services Into KanCare…
September 12, 2013
Your Monday Morning Update:
My momma always told me “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” By my silence, I’ve been respectfully obeying my momma. I’m a good girl.
However, with the inclusion of the long-term services and supports for intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) into KanCare looming, I figure it’s time to start letting my fingers do the talking.
In preparation for inclusion of IDD services into KanCare in January, the State will begin holding a series of educational meetings to help inform members and providers about the process. Our local Johnson County meeting will be held on September 26th somewhere in Overland Park. The location has not yet been announced but I will let you know as soon as it is determined. The provider meeting goes from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and the consumer/family meeting is from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
In my last email, I shared that there had been a dispute about the waiting list dollars that the Governor and Legislature allocated last session. We felt that the $9.2 million allocated for the IDD waiting list was supposed to come our way at the beginning of the State fiscal year which began July 2013. The Administration felt differently. They maintained that due to a proviso, the dollars couldn’t be released until IDD services were actually included in KanCare. Heck of a disagreement there!
You rose to the challenge and contacted your Legislators. When Legislators understood what the hubbub was all about, many weren’t happy. I believe the Governor’s office got a few phone calls…
Wednesday afternoon, the Governor held a press conference and announced the release of these dollars! What this means is that an estimated 250 folks on the IDD waiting list, will receive their well-deserved (and long-awaited) funding. We believe that a fair number that are offered will be from Johnson County.
We appreciate the Governor for this announcement and would encourage you to send a note of thanks. I often have to remind myself that there is great power in saying “thank you”.
Thank you to those of you that contacted your legislators. Thank you to those of you that are going to send a note of appreciation to the Governor.
This all proves that sometimes, silence is NOT golden!
Warm regards,
Lurena Mead
JCDS Community Relations Manager
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