TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A bipartisan group of Kansas legislators wants Gov. Sam Brownback to delay his proposed changes in the state’s Medicaid program until 2013.
The lawmakers Democrats and Republicans from the House and Senate are circulating a petition among colleagues.
They said Wednesday there are too many unknowns about the Republican administration’s plans to move to a managed-care system of health plans for poor and elderly Kansans.
The administration wants to award three contracts to manage the program. But the legislators worry the changes will reduce benefits for Medicaid recipients or reimbursements for providers.
Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer says delaying the changes would do nothing to slow the state’s rising health care costs. Colyer says nearly 75 percent of Kansas Medicaid recipients are already covered by managed-care programs.
