Your Monday Morning Update!

November 19, 2013

Your Monday Morning Update:

150 years ago today, Abraham Lincoln gave his inspirational speech – the Gettysburg Address.  The Civil War had been going on for almost three years. Citizens were getting discouraged and tired. From our childhood history class, we are all familiar with the first line of that discourse: 

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedication to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Again from those school days of yore (for some of us it’s more “yore” than for others), we learned that this speech was meant to honor the many lives lost during the Civil War while fighting for the survival of democracy.  Lincoln referred to the future when he said…”and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

In today’s struggles with this somewhat cranky and negative political atmosphere, let’s remember not only where we came from, but where we are going. Let’s not get discouraged and tired. Continue to participate and support values as vital as democracy and equality.

And now with our history lesson (and lecture) over, I thought I’d share a little about what’s going on in our world of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

1.      With the planned inclusion of I/DD long term services and supports into KanCare slated to begin in six weeks, there is still much work to be done

Folks are busy-

·        Negotiating contracts with the three Managed Care Organizations

·        Figuring out the billing process

·        Working with the State to fine tune details

·        Learning to communicate with multiple partners

There is one more little glitch. The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has yet to approve this change to KanCare. According to law, CMS must seek public input before approving it.  They have opened up a 30-day comment period. Your opinions and thoughts on this are important so to post a comment, go to: 

 http://cmsideas.uservoice.com/forums/231377-section-1115-demonstration-kansas-kancare

2.      I’ve attached the article that was posted in Sunday’s Star, about the I/DD waiting list. I’m sure many of the folks on this waiting list feel as though they have been lingering nearly four score and seven years!

 Now friends… onward and upward!  Keep doing those good things you do.

Warm regards,

Lurena Mead

Community Relations Manager

Johnson County Developmental Supports

10501 Lackman Rd. Lenexa, Kansas 66219

Direct (913) 826-2212  Office (913) 826-2626