It is time to take ACTION NOW!!!!!
We Have A Hearing on a Top Priority!!

This Wednesday morning the House Appropriations Committee will be having a hearing on HB 2205 which could eliminate the Client Obligation for people receiving HCBS or services through the PACE program. This could make a huge difference for individuals to not have to pay a client obligation. They would be able to keep all of their monthly income which would give them more money to pay bills and buy what they need each month. They would also be spending the money in their communities. Below are some talking points about the issue. We need everyone to call or email the members of the House Appropriations Committee also pasted below, to tell them to support House Bill 2205 to eliminate the client obligation. If you have questions on any of the information please let me know. Please email and call today and tomorrow.

KS House Appropriations Committee members

Representative Troy Waymaster, Chair, Bunker Hill, district 109, 785-296-7672, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Kyle Hoffman, Vice Chair, Coldwater, district 116, 785-296-7643, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Kathy Wolfe Moore, Ranking Minority, Kansas City, district 36, 785-296-0424, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative John Alcala, Topeka, district 57, 785-296-7371, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Barbara Ballard, Lawrence, district 44, 785-296-7697, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Tom Burroughs, Kansas City, district 33, 785-296-8153, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Sydney Carlin, Manhattan, district 66, 785-296-7657, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Will Carpenter, El Dorado, district 75, 785-296-7660, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative J. R. Claeys, Salina, district 69, 785-296-7670, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Susan Concannon, Beloit, district 107, 785-296-7644, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Willie Dove, Bonner Springs, district 38, 785-296-7677, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Shannon Francis, Liberal, district 125, 785-296-7466, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Henry Helgerson, Eastborough, district 83, 785-296-7668,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Steven Johnson, Assaria, district 108, 785-296-7696, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Brenda Landwehr, Wichita, district 105, 785-296-7488, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Stephen Owens, Hesston, district 74, 785-296-7500, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Brett Parker, Overland Park, district 29, 785-296-5413, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Richard Proehl, Parsons, district 7, 785-296-7639, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Ken Rahjes, Agra, district 110, 785-296-7463, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Bradley Ralph, Dodge City, district 119, 785-296-7501, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative William Sutton, Gardner, district 43, 785-296-7676, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Sean Tarwater, Stilwell, district 27, 785-296-7685, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Representative Kristey Williams, Augusta, district 77, 785-296-3971, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HB2205 Talking Points:
This bill gives statutory authority to KDHE to set the monthly client obligation income standard for persons receiving HCBS waiver services or the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) at an amount that eliminates the person’s obligation.

We are asking the legislature to appropriate funding to allow Kansas to set the client obligation at 300% of Social Security income, or $2,250/month. This amount is equal to the maximum allowed under federal law. A person with an income higher than 300% is not eligible for HCBS waiver services.

Kansas policy currently sets the personal income level at $747/month. Any income over that amount must be collected by providers.

Retirees, single parents and Kansans receiving Social Security Disability payments are hit hard by the personal income level of $747. This amount is simply inadequate to pay for the basic costs of living -- housing, utilities, transportation, hygiene and medical supplies and food.A static amount will not keep pace with cost of living increases. Kansans should be keep the money they have earned.

HB 2205:
● Eliminates burdensome red tape for everyone from the State, to the MCOs, to providers and consumers. It streamlines a system that is expensive to maintain and lacks case management services to help consumers manage the paperwork.
● Consistent with federal law
● Follows the lead of 25 other states
● 25 states set their protected income level at the maximum 300% of SSI ($2,250)
● 1 at 250% ($1,875)
● 9 at 100% of Federal Poverty Level ($1,005)
● 7 at 100% of SSI ($750)
● 5 states have no client obligation
● Does not add additional services to the waivers or change eligibility requirements
● Is financially prudent. All persons struggling to maintain independence are financially and functionally eligible for nursing home placement. Nursing homes are at least three times more expensive than home-based care. Delaying and/or diverting nursing home placement saves the State money, and allows people to stay where they want to live, at home.

by Andy Rausch and Joe Reinecker

Robin Mustain is a 38-year-old Parsons woman who receives services from SKIL. She suffered a number of injuries (most notably a head injury) when she was in a car accident at age 17. At that time she was still a high school student at Olathe North in Olathe, Kansas.

Robin's brain injuries manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including severe memory loss. “I can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday,” she explains. “After my brain injury, I couldn't even remember my own mom. I actually thought my sister was my mom. I couldn't remember any of my friends either.”

Robin's mother, now deceased, was a former employee at SKIL, so she approached the organization seeking assistance. Today, Robin lives alone. Because of SKIL, she has three direct staff workers who assist her with some day-to-activities. “I have a worker to help feed me, and when I take a shower I have a worker to help with that, too. Because I fell two times in the shower trying to answer the phone.”

“I am very happy with my services here at SKIL,” says Robin. “They have helped me a lot.”

Robin also works as a secretary at Independent Strides, which she enjoys. She says her favorite part of the job is meeting new people. She also enjoys listening to country music like Toby Keith and Allan Jackson. She also enjoys hanging out with her boyfriend.

by Andy Rausch and Joe Reinecker

Kyle Phillips is a 23-year-old Parsons man who receives services from SKIL. He has been a part of the SKIL family since he was 18, after having graduated from Sowers Alternative High, a special needs school in Wichita. Of his time at Sowers, Kyle says, “School was pretty tough, although if I hadn't gone there I would never have learned that I could sketch and draw, and also do poetry quite well. One of my teachers even bought one of my paintings at one point for a hundred bucks! I was really happy about that.”

Kyle suffers from a number of disabilities, including dyslexia, Bipolar Disorder, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. “According to my aunt, I literally have 99 pages of diagnosed disabilities,” explains Kyle.

He receives services from SKIL, having a daytime direct service worker in his home to assist with hygiene and meal preparation. In addition, he is also employed at the SKIL office in Parsons. He does a variety of jobs, including assisting with “confidential paperwork” and janitorial duties such as cleaning and trash disposal.

Kyle is extremely thankful for SKIL. “Thanks to them, I am able to work,” he explains. “I've tried getting a job at almost every single place in Parsons and they've all turned me down, saying I would be a liability due to the number of disabilities I have.”

“I love my job, because it allows me to get out of my apartment, which is good because I don't like being alone for long periods of time,” he says. “Also, it's more interesting than being bored. And many times I've met other people who are kind of like me, but are not as happy as I am. So I try to help them get happy.”

In his spare time, Kyle likes to sketch and write poetry, as well as read science fiction and fantasy fiction. “Reading and being dyslexic is tough, but it's fun. It's like deciphering a puzzle, although it gives you a headache after a while.”

Of his time with SKIL, Kyle says, “If anyone has a disability and is considering trying to get services from SKIL, I'd tell them it's a good idea. They've been very helpful. My life is been a rocky ride, but who doesn't love a little chaos in their life?”