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Legislative Summary:

by: Stephanie Wilson

The Kansas Legislature wrapped up its regular session in April having approved a budget that includes $7.5 million in new funds to increase rates for HCBS/MR waiver services, and  additional new funds to serve persons from the statewide waiting list. 

SRS indicated in  its April SRS/CDDO Management meeting that the $7.5 million in new funds would be distributed in accordance with the most recent independent rate study, which showed that certain tier rates are more under-funded than others, and that supported home care rates are less adequately funded than tier rate services.  SRS estimated that almost half of the $7.5 million in new funds would be utilized to “fix” the supported home care rates, and the remainder would be utilized to increase tier rates.  SRS and the CDDOs are discussing this further at their annual contract negotiation meetings, which started May 10.  SRS also plans to  present a proposal to manage the waiting list on a statewide basis instead of the current practice of having each CDDO manage its own waiting list.

House Bill 2319,a proposed amendment to the Developmental Disabilities Reform Act of 1995 that would prohibit CDDOs from providing direct services, was introduced during the legislative session by The Alliance for Kansans with Developmental Disabilities in an effort to resolve  problems created by the conflict of interest that exists when CDDOs also provide services.  The legislature’s Social Services Budget Committee heard testimony from parents, consumers and the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, but told The Alliance and other stakeholders they were fully aware of the issues and didn’t need further testimony.  The committee requested that all stakeholders negotiate legislation during the upcoming year that addresses the conflict of interest problems.  The legislative budget commitee implemented the request through a proviso that instructs stakeholder groups to meet during the remainder of 2005and provide a report every two months to the legislative budget committee on progress made.

 

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