19 October 2005

Governor secures additional health care dollars for Kansas
Health care community lauds victory for Kansas patients

Kansans who receive health care through Medicaid, including mothers and their children, seniors and the disabled, will continue to receive quality care, thanks to an agreement reached between Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the federal government.

After three years of collaborative effort between Governor Sebelius and the hospital and physician community, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a provider assessment that will bring in an additional $85 million to Kansas’ health care system.

“We have nearly 300,000 Kansans who rely on us for health care. This includes mothers and their babies, children of working families, senior citizens and the disabled. This agreement helps maintain access to health care for these Kansans, and it helps doctors and other health providers to continue their work to keep Kansans healthy,” Governor Kathleen Sebelius said.

“This is good news for Kansas. It will help the Medicaid safety net in Kansas and ensure its sustainability for years to come. It was a true collaboration. The joint effort of Governor Sebelius and the health care community, along with Legislative approval, was integral to making this happen,” said Tom Bell, President, Kansas Hospital Association.

For physicians, this program will create the first rate increase by the federal government in almost ten years. “This will have an important impact on physician reimbursement for Medicaid patients, which will keep health care options open for hundreds of thousands of Kansans. I appreciate the efforts of the Governor and the Medicaid group in securing this agreement. The collaboration between the State and the provider community has been impressive,” stated Jerry Slaughter, Executive Director for the Kansas Medical Society.

“A truly healthy state values the health of its citizens. That’s why it is important we ensure the health and well-being of those Kansans who depend on us,” said Governor Sebelius. “This is a victory for Kansans who rely on us for health care and the doctors and hospitals which provide that care.”