A behind-the-scenes struggle over proposed changes to Kansas Medicaid program is coming down to the wire.
Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer has offered concessions. But he appears determined to stick with his proposal to make some non-disabled recipients work, or undergo job training, for their health care coverage.
Jon Hamdorf, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment official who oversees the states privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare, said the governor believes very strongly that work is a pathway to independence.
The Colyer administration is seeking federal approval of a work requirement as part of its KanCare 2.0 proposal. That plan, submitted late last year, would extend a federal waiver that allows the state to contract with three private companies to operate KanCare, a $3 billion program that covers more than 420,000 low-income, elderly and disabled Kansans.
Historically, federal officials have rejected requirements that could deny coverage to people who would otherwise be eligible. The Trump administration wants to reverse that policy.
We need to stop KanCare 2.0 where it is and there is limited time to do so, said Sean Gatewood, a former Democratic legislator who now heads the KanCare Advocates Network.
At the outset of the 2018 session, bills were introduced in both the House and Senate to block the administration from implementing KanCare 2.0. Neither has passed, but language prohibiting the administration from moving forward was added to the Senates budget bill.
Even if the House agrees with that provision, Gatewood said it may not be enough to stop KanCare 2.0 because Colyers line-item veto power would allow him to strike just that language before signing the bill.
If that happens it would probably be after the end of the session, meaning lawmakers wouldnt have a chance to override the governors veto.
House Minority Leader Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat running for governor, said a majority of lawmakers oppose Kan-Care 2.0.
It is appalling, Ward said, that the voices of those legislators are being stifled.
In addition to the work requirement, Colyers KanCare 2.0 proposal would impose a lifetime benefit limit on some enrollees.
To show that hes heard the concerns of lawmakers and stakeholder, Hamdorf said, the governor would be willing to back off his call for benefit caps if allowed to pursue a work requirement.
No deal, Ward said.
There is no independent data that shows work requirements do anything except reduce the number of people who get health care.
