[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6466175,"mediaKeyId","5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae","parentId",5825596,"title","Kansas agency outlines $20,000-capped community support waiver to reduce IDD wait list","audioSeconds",628,"startMs",42000,"endMs",670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae&start=42&end=670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae/thumbnail_42000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466175/Kansas/Kansas-agency-outlines-20000-capped-community-support-waiver-to-reduce-IDD-wait-list","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466175-6622a4ba0869c82103c222150a155962/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=ZDdll~aSdQAyXHfZk9f1P~noULQvjsecXwoBCTE9FozPGKVZiPqHQwC6o~iD4vcs9c4Lrg58g3b4N-f8p1~enq10xqhrRJeV9MOqI23CXNb9DpCAIIYqvnvuG8TBl107Jc6OHvu7mg3G-L-FaOTydGj65o7O3m8828p~Q4w2V-h2~6JoyQzePvk-aoxuv3uB0ogSa3MkHsmr-FeuT5kbQOgLa2xmJhU3wCRj5ImsysB6IqzEzkop~I-KgJoGhka8VGEt0S~6zB3a2wnLtwwdR7THpG~4KwMSPC71PgQzWCpWb9TPyngjfkQQMqlXOINVtS2TaOu0lDD-5WG3a2GLqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kansas Legislature","date","2025-09-24T20:51:21.06Z","article","Seth Kilber, assistant commissioner at the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), told the Legislature’s special committee that the state plans a new Community Support Waiver (CSW) capped at $20,000 per person annually and designed to serve people who do not require the intensive, 24-hour supports of the comprehensive IDD waiver. Kilber said the CSW is intended to expand capacity and reduce the current IDD wait list.

Kilber said Kansas currently serves about 9,667 people on the comprehensive IDD waiver with a practical cap of about 9,811, and its IDD wait list was about 4,934 at the time of his presentation. KDADS issued a round of 194 offers in April 2025; the next round, planned late this month into October, would send roughly 293 offers and move the wait-list cut‑off date to Sept. 30, 2018 — about an eight-year wait for people at the end of that tranche.

The CSW would be a capped, lighter-touch waiver with an annual per-person maximum of $20,000, Kilber said. KDADS estimates serving 500 people in the CSW’s first year; full-year modeling presented to the committee estimated roughly $10 million in all funds and $3.8 million in state general funds (SGF) for that first year. In later years, if the program scales, KDADS presented estimates for serving up to 3,500 people — roughly $70 million all funds and roughly $26 million SGF in the final year of modeling.

Kilber said the CSW targets people who may not need the full comprehensive waiver average cost (which KDADS cited around $70,000 per person per year) and who could meet their needs with a menu of services including nonmedical transportation, employment supports, personal care, respite, and therapies. KDADS has completed a rate study and is drafting the formal waiver language; Kilber said staff and a technical advisory group are vetting the service definitions and rates before submission to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Kilber told lawmakers KDADS has hired a contractor to help draft the waiver, received roughly $953,000 in state funds to begin launch activities (final quarter FY26), and expects, with CMS approval, roughly $2.5 million in all funds to help serve the initial cohort.

Committee members pressed KDADS on timing, assumptions and capacity. Representative John Buehler asked whether the projected wait-list reductions depend on CSW approval; Kilber said they do. Representative Rivas asked what share of current comprehensive-waiver participants might transition to the CSW; Kilber said an analysis of claims data suggested roughly 40% of people on the IDD waiver used under $30,000 a year — a ballpark indication some participants could be appropriate candidates for the CSW, but he cautioned the CSW includes services not currently available and behavioral patterns may change once the waiver is active.

Lawmakers and stakeholders also discussed how KDADS will manage offers if a participant declines an available slot. Kilber said KDADS uses a single statewide IDD waiting list and the process is designed so that if someone accepts a slot the wait‑list number is reduced; if an available slot is offered and declined, the person can remain on the wait list until a more suitable slot appears. Committee members asked KDADS for clearer timelines and outreach procedures; Kilber said KDADS will refine public communications and implementation timelines while continuing to draft waiver language and consult with CMS.

Kilber said one legislative constraint is House Bill 2240 from the prior session. KDADS staff told lawmakers that, depending on final waiver design and certain policy changes (for example conflict-free case-management approaches), KDADS may need to seek further legislative approval prior to formally submitting the waiver to CMS.

Kilber recommended continued stakeholder engagement, drafting an “only willing and qualified provider” exception policy where necessary for sparsely served areas, and stronger state oversight mechanisms so the state can demonstrate to CMS that conflict-of-interest safeguards and quality monitoring are in place.

The committee did not take any formal votes during the session. KDADS seeks to submit CSW language to CMS after the department completes stakeholder review, final rate-setting and internal approvals; Kilber emphasized the department wants to balance a rapid timeline with clear communications and operational readiness.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Committee on Health and Social Services 09/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Seth Kilber, assistant commissioner at the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), told the Legislature’s special committee that the state plans a new Community Support Waiver capped at $20,000 per person annually and designed to serve people who do not require the intensive, 24-hour supports of the comprehensive IDD waiver.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",15103,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6466160,"North‑Central Kansas pilot nets 176 jobs; OCCK urges scaling and benefits planning",0,5462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae&start=5462&end=5462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae/thumbnail_5462000.jpg","/articles/6466160/Kansas/NorthCentral-Kansas-pilot-nets-176-jobs-OCCK-urges-scaling-and-benefits-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466160-2d84bc1fe7594ba507cafeee6c82b110/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=YjljeEx-tHxZQo964PkHcrkRdEfC9ypYPFGQlH0QYBWsKrsNJOgpqQ66QfLo-JHGkVRBbktsscTIaihu0dspQqaiKhb4jHlvjmLjiWUe~h2ws65vsW47kCQQi4WqBZnBzfEOq-71iiOTngPAfUc3qbRF-WUcQNfBzONCbRiNni9G4rZVNnII20n3tdAcRdTs~3s5fRF~43kaZsUgqvxd1OCwelRD9L52BfbUNs7PBgm7Cg695pMHPlPYVJmOYyKK0QV35PIXf68~Es24maYAZRVlYZ4z7OJwgskcJlkBGEIPc1kf6xxeyDHtDcNi2kEe8whzZPtC1R8JXtw4QSEe~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kendra Krier, vice president for rural outreach and services at OCCK, described a multi‑site Employment First pilot that OCCK participated in with technical assistance from national partners. The pilot selected diverse providers across Kansas, provided mentoring and accredited job‑development training, and reported 176 people placed in competitive integrated employment across four pilot organizations.

Krier told the committee the pilot emphasized cross‑program staffing and training, bringing together IDD, autism, brain‑injury, workforce and self‑directed services into a single navigator team to focus on career discovery, employer outreach and job coaching. Pilot participants averaged more than $13 per hour and typically worked over 20 hours per week. OCCK and KU estimated strong rural results in Salina, Ford and other counties.

Krier said the pilot exposed needs for sustained infrastructure: trained job developers and job coaches, consistent benefit-planning supports to address families’ concerns about how earnings affect eligibility, transportation tailored to nonstandard shift hours and funding for milestone staffing. OCCK described next steps including leadership ownership, board support, expanded training and a scholarship fund to support postsecondary education for people with disabilities.

Committee members praised the results and asked about funding, technical assistance and Medicaid match. KDADS and KU told lawmakers the pilot had used federal ARPA funds for initial investments; scaling will require ongoing budget authority and further partnerships among KDADS, community providers and workforce agencies. Legislators asked OCCK to provide more detail about costs and recommended KDADS consider expanding similar technical-assistance partnerships to more providers.

No formal committee votes were recorded. OCCK invited the committee to examine pilot materials and to consider policy or funding steps to expand training and benefit planning statewide.","OCCK described an Employment First pilot that created 176 integrated jobs across rural and urban Kansas, with average wages above $13/hour, and urged the Legislature to invest in training, infrastructure and benefits planning to scale the model.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6466165,"CMS conflict-free case management rule explained to Kansas committee; states must separate case management and service provision",454,3274000,3728000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae&start=3274&end=3728","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae/thumbnail_3274000.jpg","/articles/6466165/Kansas/CMS-conflict-free-case-management-rule-explained-to-Kansas-committee-states-must-separate-case-management-and-service-provision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466165-fd3e3d5beaaa65020567bd0cf3a26b36/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=jsJguh7-NfN5-KsHR0ey6jQhojaKGWSeNx1K5efTESP-XtmR9teaoAUh-KoEOrVzsg~Iojk~rjPfbZbnQZldJ5t-5XMAWXF9tQ9va4xE1F8KUjoBPZzQQ3zQigdW~mdXgppvH4Nv3ivoVIqL1WRwnioWr2aDGAHx5bOwLgkK~WfuzZ241DnUFZvyuRh3gyyQ17kC4NG5lJKVkRzX6svMz4OqCW4AaZU~~daq-mchE2T4B-oDaZIgrHcbv2aTlkpK6WMqJQLOqGBHV7eXEexxrFR1~IiWcrruDY4-GklghplTEOUhJ1X85niXoz4ahC-BEEOK7dYtrozzxi3YK~WC9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A subject-matter expert briefed the Kansas special committee on federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) regulations that require separation of case management and direct service provision to prevent conflicts of interest. The speaker reviewed key regulatory citations, CMS guidance and examples from other states such as Vermont, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Alaska and Colorado.

The presenter told the committee that CMS’s HCBS final rule (effective March 17, 2014) requires that providers of HCBS or entities with an interest in providers not provide case management or develop a person-centered plan for the same individual, except where the state demonstrates that only a willing and qualified entity exists in a geographic area. The speaker said CMS expects states to provide documentation, safeguards and periodic oversight when granting such an exception.

The committee heard that possible safeguards include administrative separation of staff who develop person-centered plans from staff who provide services to the same individual; accessible dispute-resolution and appeal procedures for individuals who believe the state’s determination is incorrect; disclosure and informed-choice documentation for participants; and periodic state audits reviewing whether the “only willing and qualified” condition remains true in a geography.

The presenter described a range of state responses. Some states created dedicated conflict-free case management agencies (South Dakota, Colorado, Alaska with specific safeguards). Other states implemented phased approaches with stakeholder engagement (Vermont, Rhode Island). In frontier or rural areas, Alaska and others obtained limited “only willing and qualified” exceptions, paired with training and state review requirements. Managed-care organizations can provide case management only if they do not deliver direct services to the same person or they demonstrate they are the only willing and qualified entity in that area, and the state must retain oversight of eligibility determinations.

Committee members pressed for specifics about Kansas implementation. Chair Carpenter said KDADS must meet CMS expectations to avoid federal disallowance of Medicaid funding. Legislators asked whether the department would create a new state-level agency or rely on private organizations to serve as conflict‑free case managers. The presenter and KDADS staff said models differ by state and by rural/urban context; Kansas is exploring multiple pathways, including allowing providers to divest, establishing independent case-management entities and drafting an “only willing and qualified” policy for limited geographies with appropriate safeguards.

No formal committee votes were recorded. Committee members asked KDADS to publish membership and minutes for a policy-alignment team that will draft the operational policy and to provide clear timelines and reporting to the Legislature on progress toward compliance.

The committee stressed that implementation must minimize disruption for people currently served while meeting federal expectations. KDADS told the committee it expects to publish planned membership and ongoing meeting notes and to continue stakeholder engagement.","A subject-matter speaker summarized the federal HCBS conflict-of-interest rules, and committee discussion focused on Kansas’ path to compliance, potential 'only willing and qualified provider' exceptions for rural areas, and the need for clear safeguards and oversight.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6466169,"KU study finds long IDD wait lists, health decline while waiting; recommends data portals and employment supports",1608,1582000,3190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae&start=1582&end=3190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825596-175f06ed22a910b248056557b02fd6ae/thumbnail_1582000.jpg","/articles/6466169/Kansas/KU-study-finds-long-IDD-wait-lists-health-decline-while-waiting-recommends-data-portals-and-employment-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466169-a90e72a32d16fa0ee2b68022d413d164/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643034&Signature=LwAVX~0S8pRdkTaAyHyjH6oZkfIrtBvz6aY2O3bdTzPkpihQTDoqlwjpSth67a9BdQBXNMQCNu8l--IUqqK51TRMrRWN7XPgrysFCyKm6V272pyte2Or-qLhRqEw5YgSUQqwrh-zFaesf4OPTmsqmTu3flM07hM8QMZ-KPKYqInxXuaT8nuAzJ5yNZ547cihgp6WSZSXtbZkcFTcWDtlv4rPHsYNwa2-b7njeqZ347PPKYBT2~kpfng~22-x92CrwLrJT5ZcUA8iByt6Ozdv6N1UykDzVDueF8~nk9E74ueSyvL3Nd-kn5WX0pAEnMpnwgU0Qm7lplIHy0hNwmdXnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evan Dean, associate director at the University of Kansas Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCD), summarized a KU-led study of Kansas Medicaid waiting lists for intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and physical disabilities. The study analyzed administrative data and conducted accessible surveys of people on the wait list and caregivers.

Dean said the KU study began in October 2022 and analyzed administrative records through January 2024. At that time, the IDD waiting list in Kansas had grown to about 5,240 and the physical‑disabilities (PD) waiting list about 2,200; KDADS legislative actions since then have reduced the wait-list totals. Dean told the committee the KU team used Medicaid claims, crisis-exception tracking and an accessible survey developed with the Self Advocacy Coalition of Kansas to document needs.

Key study findings presented to the committee included:
- The majority of people on IDD waiting lists were under age 21 in the administrative snapshot KU analyzed. Many younger people may qualify for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits through Medicaid that provide health and medical services while they await waiver slots.
- Crisis exceptions and priority populations were most often granted for caregiver needs (aging caregivers, caregiver death) and for significant behavioral supports, abuse/neglect/exploitation and criminal-justice involvement. People frequently fit into multiple categories.
- Survey results indicated that most respondents preferred living alone, with a partner or in an apartment with roommates rather than institutional or disability-only housing. Respondents reported higher-than-expected support needs in areas such as daily assistance and community supports.
- Claims analysis suggested people on waiting lists had poorer health and became sicker while waiting; KU described this as a cost and quality concern because later entry into services often increases service intensity and cost.

Dean also described a KU partnership with KDADS and community providers to build competitive integrated employment capacity. A pilot that paired Kansas providers with national mentors saw 176 individuals obtain jobs with an average wage above $13 per hour and many working more than 20 hours per week. Dean and KU recommend investments in data systems (secure family portals and public dashboards), individual budget authority in the CSW, better transition planning for youth leaving school, and robust employment services as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce waiting lists and improve outcomes.

Committee members asked for more granular analysis of costs associated with delayed care. Dean said KU could explore whether earlier access reduces later acute care costs but would need more data and time to calculate dollar estimates. Several legislators urged KDADS and KU to pursue a public-facing portal so families can confirm a person’s position on the statewide waiting list and keep contact information current.

No formal committee actions were taken during the presentation; KU researchers said the study’s final report and data appendices were available to committee staff and stakeholders.","Researchers from the University of Kansas presented a study to the committee showing thousands on Kansas waiting lists, evidence of declining health while waiting, and recommendations that include public-facing wait-list dashboards, improved data systems and strengthened employment supports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kansas agency outlines $20,000-capped community support waiver to reduce IDD wait list

North‑Central Kansas pilot nets 176 jobs; OCCK urges scaling and benefits planning

CMS conflict-free case management rule explained to Kansas committee; states must separate case management and service provision

KU study finds long IDD wait lists, health decline while waiting; recommends data portals and employment supports