Kansans with developmental disabilities and their caregivers have been among the most vocal critics of the new privatized Medicaid system.
They are worried that KanCare will dismantle the networks of residential and day services that allow them to live in the community, rather than in institutions.
Those concerns prompted the Brownback administration to wait until January 2014 before requiring those services to go through KanCare. The pilot project lets consumers who want to go ahead with the switch now do so voluntarily.
Secretary of Aging and Disability Services Shawn Sullivan says the support these families rely on will not be disrupted.
“The pilot will allow a person and family and guardian to keep their case manager, and keep their provider," he says. "Participation will be strictly voluntary."
The pilot will also include employment placement services, and behavioral support.
Sullivan says the three private companies operating KanCare will also offer value-added services that are not currently available to Medicaid clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities.