KanCare | DCF | KDHE | Office of the Governor

Community members, stakeholders and other interested parties can submit ideas to this email address: [email protected]

Mitzie Tyree, Director of HCBS Initiatives, [email protected]

Megan Shepard, Training and Programming Grants Coordinator, [email protected]

Sandra Hestand Puett, HCBS Project Manager, [email protected]

Jamie Katsbulas, Waitlist/TCM Study Coordinator, [email protected]

Mark Dietzler, Workforce Employment First Specialist, [email protected]

1. Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas - Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (sackonline.org)
2. Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living - KACIL | Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living
3. Families Together - Families Together, Inc. | Assisting Kansas Parents and Their Children with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serves (CMS) reimburses each state for a percentage of its total Medicaid expenditures. This percentage, which varies by state, is called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). FMAP varies by state, based on the state's per capita income. States with lower per capita income typically have a higher FMAP.

Goals of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds

Kansas will use the state funds equivalent to the amount of federal funds attributable to the increased FMAP to supplement the implementation of one or more activities to enhance, expand or strengthen Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) under the Medicaid program. Projects that would allow the state to strategically position its programs and services for the future:

• Maximize Benefit to Kansas Citizens
• Invest in Lasting Impact and Change
• Ensure Flexibility to Meet Evolving Needs
• Fully Utilize All Federal Funding.
• Leverage More Community-Based Resources to Support Health Equity
• Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program to Support HCBS
• State Infrastructure Support
• Training for Primary Care and Dental Providers to Expand and Improve Services to HCBS Patients
• Evaluation of the STEPS Employment Support Pilot Program

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Section 9817
provides enhanced federal funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) through a
one-year 10 percent increase to the share of state Medicaid spending contributed by the federal
government. This one-year increase in federal matching funds will result in new, time-limited dollars
that can be strategically invested in HCBS services in the state of Kansas through March of 2024.

The KDADS FMAP team has been working to develop initiatives based on compendium guidance and stakeholder feedback. The FMAP team will continue to provide project updates through the webpage and email.

Sequential Intercept Model

The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM), developed by Mark R. Munetz, M.D. and Patricia A. Griffin, Ph.D.,1 provides a conceptual framework for jurisdictions interested in exploring the intersection of behavioral health and criminal legal system, assessing available resources, identifying gaps in services, and conducting strategic planning. These activities are best accomplished by a diverse cross‐system group of stakeholders from the behavioral health and criminal legal systems including mental health and substance use treatment providers, law enforcement and other first responders, courts, jails, community corrections, social service
agencies, housing providers, people with lived experience, family members, and many others.

KDADS Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Leadership Committee

Secretary Howard is pleased to announce the formation of the KDADS Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Leadership Committee to help move six key areas forward to better serve individuals living with I/DD and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. Following the SIM Conference November 9-10, 2022, stakeholders with years of experience were invited by Secretary Howard to join the SIM Leadership Committee and bring expertise from key intersections of the community: law enforcement, judges, managed care organizations, self-advocates, mental health providers, and other stakeholders. This committee will lead and define priority areas and develop metrics to measure success.

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Employment First

Employment — paid work — leads to economic opportunity, equity, and independence. Individuals with
disabilities optimize their ability to enjoy these benefits of employment through careers and jobs
available to all individuals that provide competitive earnings (wages equal to or exceeding applicable
minimum wage rates), integration (interaction with coworkers and others without disabilities similar to
that experienced by their non-disabled peers while performing their job duties), and opportunity for
advancement (i.e., “competitive integrated employment”).

Stakeholder Meeting Minutes

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Workforce Bonus Program (Closed for Applications)

Recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce is important in every industry, but it is critical to the independence and well-being of individuals receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).

KDADS launched a Workforce Recruitment and Retention Bonus Initiative on March 28, 2022. The Initiative aimed to provide bonus pay to direct service workers and their immediate supervisors who deliver critical HCBS services to self-directed and agency-directed participants. Direct service workers and their immediate supervisors received around $2,000 for retention bonuses and $1,500 for recruitment bonuses depending on their hours worked and place of employment.

The application period has ended. Providers and fiscal agents had through April 29, 2022, to submit an application packet. KDADS received 212 applications for the program, benefitting 28,574 Direct Service Workers and their Immediate Supervisors. As of October 12, 2022, $50,944,068.00 has been transferred to the Managed Care Organizations that have distributed funds to providers and fiscal agents who have granted their applicable employee retention and recruitment bonuses. Completed closeout surveys and any remaining funds were due to KDADS by July 31, 2023.

Direct Service Workforce Training Project

The University of Kansas (KU) and Wichita State University (WSU) are working with the KDADS to develop online training courses for Direct Support Workers (DSW) in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program. Enhanced training of DSWs will improve staff confidence in providing essential services that improve the quality of life by ensuring DSWs have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide support to each individual they serve in a strengths-based person-centered manner that produce the outcomes outlined in the Person-Centered Support Plan.

Research indicates that there is a link between thorough DSW training and an increase in retention rates. Enhanced training also provides DSWs the skill set necessary to be more marketable, allowing the DSW the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, earn higher wages and increase the quality of care provided.

Would you like to help with this important project? We are looking for individuals who receive HCBS, Direct Support Workers, and family caregivers to advise on this training. 

Opportunities to help include the following. Please see the recruitment flyer link below for more information:

• Joining the Training Advisory Council (TAC) with other stakeholders to advise on training topics, content, procedures, and other needs.
  • The TAC meets by Zoom on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Reviewing training materials and providing feedback.
  • The time commitment varies, and payment is available.
• Testing online training modules and providing feedback. The time commitment varies, and payment is available.

DSW Training Recruitment Flyer

If interested, scan the QR code below or click this link to sign up:

If you have any questions, contact Carrie with KU at 785-864-3797 or [email protected].

Direct Support Professionals Careers

In partnership with InterHab, Sunflower Helath Plan has produced a set of videos that highlight the importance and value of the DSP position. Videos and links:

“A Great Foundation – Direct Support Professionals” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t17qiWYC9Lg

“Discover Your Passion while Serving Others” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA01f_DtraM

“A Profession that Grows with You” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfdgLW_8qtQ

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IDD Waitlist Study

Coming soon ...

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HCBS Behavioral Management Training Pilot

Coming soon ...

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Targeted Case Management

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is working with Public Consulting Group LLC (PCG) to come up with di­fferent ways and options that will support the Kansas Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) Targeted Case Management (TCM) system in following the government rules.

KDADS and PCG will host several stakeholder meetings throughout the project and invite individuals from different stakeholder groups to participate in multiple opportunities to gather information, ideas, problem areas, and questions about IDD TCM and HCBS services. We are asking for your assistance with two tasks:

1. Complete a survey based on your involvement with TCM - These surveys are completely voluntary, do not affect benefits, and are anonymous. You may choose not to participate or withdraw from participating at any time once started. If you do choose to participate, the survey should be completed by September 13^th. The surveys can be found at the corresponding links below:
   
   CDDO: https://publicconsultingroup.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5mVU2g6Iy4B2486
   HCBS Providers: https://publicconsultingroup.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dcYP2x0fRXy5xmm
   MCO: https://publicconsultingroup.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7V3YHgSyPTg8VIq
   TCM: https://publicconsultingroup.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3QWKnmedRPxG1Wm
   Individual/Family: https://publicconsultingroup.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b1kmAroTyWFkupg

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Technology Use Initiative

Coming soon ...

2023

2022