Brief (1)
SB 372 repeals a statute that concerns programs that were transferred from the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to the Department on Aging by legislation that was enacted in 1966.
The statute repealed by SB 372 concerns Medicaid programs that are now administered by the Department on Aging and provides that the Secretary of Aging ensure statewide service access and adopt an application procedure that presumes eligibility of persons applying for services from the date of application.
Background
SB 372 was introduced by the SRS Transition Oversight Committee following a review of Kansas laws relating to long-term care and review of and a hearing on Medicaid home and community based waiver programs, including the frail elderly waiver program now administered by the Department on Aging. As the Transition Oversight Committee reviewed "waiting lists" for the frail elderly program, it was discovered the persons whose names were on the "waiting lists" had not been determined eligible for either the Medicaid program or eligibility according to the program needs criteria. The statute that would be repealed by SB 372 would allow more accurate reporting of those who are eligible for services and would allow prioritization on the basis of service needs as requested by the 1998 Legislature.
The Secretary of Aging supported the bill during the Committee hearing on the bill. No one appeared in opposition. During the hearing, a question was raised as to whether other statutes or regulations require statewide program access. Since both the nursing facility and frail elderly waiver programs are Medicaid programs, federal statewide mandates are applicable to the programs.
No additional costs would result from repeal of KSA 75-5956. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html