By Andy Marso
THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL http://cjonline.com/news/2012-02-03/gov-orders-srs-medicaid-reorganization

Gov. Sam Brownback followed through on a government reorganization plan that has been in the works for months Friday, consolidating the number of state agencies that handle Medicaid services from four to two.

Brownback signed an executive order morphing the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, one of the largest state agencies, into the Department for Children and Families. He named social worker and former state legislator Phyllis Gilmore to head the new department.

"As our state's health and human services agencies transition into new roles, it was important for us to find someone who is experienced in family and children-related issues and understands the many challenges our state's most vulnerable citizens face," Brownback said during a media briefing. "Phyllis shares my passion to improve our great state and reduce the number of Kansas children living in poverty."

March 16- Targeted date for Electronic Verification

Currently the Electronic Verification system the state of Kansas is requiring SKIL to use is working only with Developmental Disability or DD waiver also working is the Frail and Elderly or FE waiver Direct Support Workers. It is also working with all Sleep Cycle services.

The State has informed SKIL the Physical Disability (PD) and Head Injury waivers are not working at this point.AuthentiCare has moved the date for PD and TBI personal assistant services to March 16, 2012.  Until that date, the direct support workers (DSW) will not have to call in unless they are doing sleep cycle support on these 2 waivers. 

The Kansas Department on Aging and the Kansas (KDOA) and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) are using a Electronic Verification and Monitoring (EV&M) system for home health care providers known as KS AuthentiCare for use in selected Medicaid waiver programs.

KS AuthentiCare is a web-based scheduling, time and attendance tracking and billing system designed specifically for the diverse needs of Medicaid home and community-based services.  The paperless system provides real-time access to information needed for consumer services management and will assist providers in streamlining their business practices and reducing dependence on paper reporting and billing processes.

Using a traditional landline or GPS-enabled mobile device, claims are generated automatically when the worker calls a toll-free phone number from the consumer's home or uses the mobile application at the beginning and end of service delivery. KS AuthentiCare uses the worker's unique ID number and the consumer's phone number or the worker's unique ID number and GPS location to verify the service being provided and the consumer receiving the service. KS AuthentiCare submits the claim to Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) for settlement after the provider reviews and confirms the claim via the web.

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More than 3300 people are suffering just like Abe. What's the Governor's office going to do about the ever expanding waiting list for home and community based services for the physically disabled?' Click here to see their response.

Abe Jahansouz is on the Physical Disability Waiver Waiting List. He has been waiting since September 2009. Abe attended Labette County Community College in the early 70’s. He received a Biological and Agricultural Engineering Degree from K-State in 1978 went on to  continue his education at Pittsburg State University where he got his Master’s in Engineering Technology Degree and later his  E.D.S. in 1990. Abe was a professor in four Junior  Colleges in Southeast Kansas and taught at the Pitt State university as well for several years.

A back injury in 1989 and multiple surgeries later and now Abe is trying to survive on $962.00 a month. He draws a $500 cash advance on his credit card each month to cover rent, medical bills and prescription cost.  A radical change from the dream home he built, and lived in for thirteen years. His wife divorced him after over thirty years of marriage and a daughter lives in Tennessee. The daughter is the Assistant Dean at a college.  

Abe remarked about his family and wife, “She couldn’t take it no longer. Family breaks; I hope it never happens to anybody.”

Jenny Dale < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Needing to sell Jazzy wheelchair. Weight capacity 300lbs. New batteries. Including seat cushion for extra padding. Asking $500.00 They can contact me at 620-870-1216. Also have Electric lift that hooks to the back of a automobile unsure on price if interested we can talk about price

Thank you

Jenny Dale.

SRS to Accept Applications for Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

TOPEKA- The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) will be accepting applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) from Wednesday, January 18 through Friday, March 30, 2012.

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Individuals with disabilities, elderly persons, and families with children are the primary groups assisted.   An average benefit of $262.88 was provided to 62,000 households in 2011.

On Monday, the Kansas Senate Ways & Means Committee conducted a hearing on a new electronic verification system implemented by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. The program, described as being “fraught with administrative errors and false starts”, was intended to track the working hours of those providing in-home services to the disabled and frail elderly. On Tuesday Deputy Attorney General Loren Snell, who appeared before the House Social Services Budget Committee, expressed doubt that the new system will do much to deter fraud. Organizations like the SKIL Resource Center serve as fiscal agents and provide payroll services for Personal Care Attendants. According to CEO of the Parsons-based organization Shari Coatney, the incidence of fraud is less than 1 percent.

New Resource for People with a disability

ABOUT US:

Our Mission – We Connect Now is dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues.

One of the goals of this site is to help college students with disabilities to succeed in their studies by getting the information and support they need, both through resources, links, blogs latest news, studying existing laws and regulation and through personal contacts. Through this website people can also share and read other people’s stories as a source of support and comfort. We also want people using our web page to take action by writing blogs, hosting an event or becoming involved in politics by knowing about upcoming legislation.  Also, every month our web page will focus on a particular disability or condition to bring our visitors more information and support related to our focus of the month. Through our jobssection, we also hope to help empower people with disabilities find employment through job posting and job searching tips, and  if people have any questions we encourage them to contact us. The goal of this site is that people leave it having gained knowledge, a support system and having taken action. We were founded in 2008 as a blueprint project for Young People For. Web site link is  http://weconnectnow.wordpress.com/