LAWRENCE DOUGLAS COUNTY ADVOCACY COUNCIL ON AGING

Independence Inc., 2001 Haskell Avenue, Lawrence, KS 6044

Minutes of January 17, 2017

Attending:   Mary Johnson, Ellen Paulsen, Tamara Cash, Saunny, Dawn Hill, Brenda Nunez,

                                Jenn Preston, Artie Shaw, Guest speaker Mitzi McFatrich

Mary opened the meeting by introducing our speaker Mitzi McFatrich, Exec Director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care.  Mitzi provided extensive update on legislative issues in Kansas.

· The Legislature has not operated as usual this past year.  The state is in a financial hole and the legislature is taking up proposals on how to deal with it.  One proposal is for all government departments have a reduction of 4% for all agencies.

· Nursing homes have lobbied for an increase in reimbursement rates of 6%.  The CDDO’s have not gotten an increase in 11 years.

· Kansas went from a solid network of providers to a managed care system with no experience.  There is a constant shrinking supply of care providers in the home and community based services.

· There needs to be more robust home base services with $1000/yr. for home care vs $5000/yr. for nursing homes.

· Things to watch in the budget bill are services for older adults and Medicaid expansion.  Medicaid applications to be approved now have a 6 month wait, which is way beyond the 45 day rule.

Key Legislators and their committee this session:

                Barbara Ballard – senate KanCare

                John Wilson – House committee

                Marci Francisco – funding committee

Additional information on senior issues provided by Mitzi.

· Background checks for in-home providers – from the national databases.

· Video monitoring in adult care homes to protect and provide security and privacy.

· The State is lacking in oversight reviews due to understaffing and contracting out.

· Example – inspections law states 12 months between inspections, not it is 18-24 months.

· Inspections unit covers 850 care homes – there are 50 state workers with 10-15 positions unfilled.

· Karen Bacon is the KanCare Ombudsman for people receiving Medicaid.

There will be training in Financial Abuse of Elders.  Stay tuned as to date and time.

The meeting hour was filled with lively discussion of the issues.  All other reports tabled until February.

The next meeting will be February 21 at 11:30 for eat and greet so bring your lunch and visit.

                – Tom Marcus, City Manager will be our speaker.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Johnson