The business of medicine is changing dramatically. In doctor's offices, hospitals, clinics and medical insurance offices, major efforts are being made to emphasize preventive health care, improve access to health care, and slow spiraling cost increases.

Similar fundamental changes will have enormous impact on low income or disabled Kansans who depend on the state/federal Medicaid program for their medical assistance.

The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, the Medicaid agency in Kansas, was directed by the Kansas Legislature to provide a statewide system of managed health care by July, 1997.

To provide information to Medicaid beneficiaries and the providers of medical services, a series of informational public meetings about managed care have been scheduled later this month. A meeting is set in Hutchinson on Wednesday, September 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hutchinson Public Library, 901 North Main.

Under a managed care health plan, patients receive primary health services from a single health care practitioner or single organization to emphasize preventive health care and a reduction in unnecessary care and high costs. The goals of Medicaid managed care are similar to goals being emphasized in the private sector: improving service quality, increasing access, containing cost increases and ensuring and protecting the rights and dignity of beneficiaries.

In order to implement managed care, SRS teams have been working hard to avoid the difficult start-up problems several other states have experienced. The agency has reached out to Medicaid consumers, physicians and other health care providers, hospital administrators, and consumer advocates for input in designing the new managed care system.

SRS Secretary Rochelle Chronister has emphasized the need for coordination and collaboration as managed care begins.

It takes tremendous cooperation to move from a large, fee-for-service system to a new system providing health care services using one physician or organization as a gatekeeper to medical services," she said. Getting as many consumers and medical providers as possible involved and aware will be key to our success. We need their input."

Managed care will begin in May, 1997, for Medicaid beneficiaries in Harper, Kingman, McPherson, Reno, Rice and Sumner counties. The public meetings are an attempt to provide information about the coming program for both Medicaid recipients and medical providers.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001