Once again, innovative changes in social service programs initiated in Kansas have drawn the attention of national lawmakers.

Ann Koci, commissioner of Adult and Medical Services for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS), will testify Thursday before the Health and Environment subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce in the U.S. House of Representatives in promotion of a Kansas program providing community-based services for individuals with disabilities.

Koci's testimony follows previous testimony before the current session of Congress on the successful privatization of child welfare programs. In February, SRS Secretary Rochelle Chronister talked about the Kansas effort to reform the adoption and foster care system before a U.S. Senate subcommittee. And in February, 1997, Children and Family Services Commissioner Teresa Markowitz testified on the privatization of children's services before the Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Koci, who also acts as the state's Medicaid director, will describe to national lawmakers the Home and Community Based Services for persons with physical disabilities (HCBS/PD). She was asked to supply information to Congress on the Kansas HCBS/PD program by the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL).

This HCBS/PD program was initiated January 1, 1997 after a collaborative design effort involving consumers, advocates, providers, provider associations including nursing facility associations, and state and local government officials. The program focuses on consumer-directed care, day-to-day administration through private organizations at the local level, education and training rather than regulation, and consumer satisfaction as the key indicator of quality.

Koci will tell federal lawmakers that after one year, the HCBS/PD program has been hugely successful. There has been no waiting lists for consumer-directed services, no individual

cost ceilings of caps, and individuals receive the services they need in order to maintain or improve their independent living goals. A 96 percent overall satisfaction rate by consumers with the services loudly demonstrates the success of the program in the first year.

In addition, Commissioner Koci will tell lawmakers that the program has saved the state almost $25 million. This cost savings involves money that would have been spent for institutional care had the home and community based program not been in place.

"Obviously, consumer control and choices which empower individuals are goals worth pursuing in and of themselves," Koci said. "The fact that this can be accomplished and be fiscally responsible and cost-effective is an added bonus to taxpayers."

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001