“The Early Innovator Grant was the ‘baby elephant.’ It was something that would help move the state on some of its information systems, but it was going to create a bunch of requirements in the long run that were not sustainable.  The Governor (Sam Brownback) and I chose to return those funds so that we could build a system that does make sense for the State of Kansas.”

That was Lt. Gov.  Jeff Colyer‘s comment about why Kansas returned the $31.5 million early innovator grant to the federal government, which had been targeted to establish health insurance exchanges. 

Colyer said they were looking for a “Kansas-centric program rather than a federally-dictated one.”

Colyer did not see an inconsistency in rejecting one federal grant and accepting a different one, a $6.6 million federal grant to promote marriage.

“Getting stability and helping young families get started is absolutely critical,” according to Colyer.  He felt promoting marriage with the federal funds was worthwhile.

On Wednesday Lt. Gov.Colyer was in Overland Park to lead the final Medicaid Public Input Forum.  Kansas Watchdog asked the Lt. Gov how the public meetings would help reform Medicaid in the state.

Colyer gave this overview:  “The idea was to go around the state — all four congressional districts — and talk about how can we reform Medicaid, what are people’s ideas, what are some things we can do … that will make better quality care and save money.”

Colyer said over 1,500 attended the forums around the state, which was much higher than their expectation.

When asked if the Medicaid cuts would be in the $200 to $400 million range, Colyer said “there  never has been an exact number, but we’re looking on a very large scale. … We’re spending $400 million a year more now than we were just two years ago.  At that rate, it’s unsustainable.”

Three examples Colyer gave for big Medicaid savings included:

• “Taking care of the whole person and coordinating their care”
• “We can keep people out of the hospital [and put them] into more home-based settings”
• “Getting rid of some of the waste and fraud”

Colyer said the results from the forums would be summarized on the KDHE web site:
www.kdheks.gov/hcf/medicaid_reform_forum.

Watch interview with Colyer about Medicaid forum and federal grants:

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Related:

• Shadowing those working in the shadows in Kansas!, Canada Free Press, Aug. 19, 2011.
• Brownback officials host final Medicaid makeover forum, KHI News, Aug. 17, 2011.
• Video from Missouri Senate hearing in KC on health insurance exchanges, Missouri Watchdog, Aug. 17, 2011.
• Kansas To Opt Out Of Early Innovator Grant, Gov. Sam Brownback’s Facebook page, Aug. 9, 2011.
• Brownback returns $31.5M grant for health coverage exchange, Kansas City Business Journal, Aug. 9, 2011.
• Kansas seeks ideas for Medicaid reform in Dodge City, Dodge City Globe, July 9, 2011.
• Hundreds participate in Wichita Medicaid forum, Wichita Business Journal, July 8, 2011.
• Medicaid forum generates long list of reform ideas, KHI News, July 7, 2011.
• Medicaid forum takes political slant, Topeka Capital-Journal, June 22, 2011.

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Contact: Earl F Glynn, earl@kansaswatchdog.org, KansasWatchdog.org

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