The KFA board on a voice vote agreed to table a New Beginnings request to classify two medical procedures and vision care under its KFA grant, after board members expressed concern about setting a precedent for paying individual health care costs.

Board members split over whether emergency medical needs should be treated as allowable under the grantee’s approved budget. Krista (Sunflower staff) told the board New Beginnings reported spending $26,341 for two surgeries — a $6,880.81 cataract procedure and a $19,460 emergency surgery for a twisted bowel — and that payments went directly to the providers. The organization said the care improved participants’ ability to remain in recovery; one cataract procedure allowed a participant to regain a driver’s license, Krista said.

The debate centered on whether those post‑hoc expenditures align with the grantee’s approved strategy of “integrating primary and behavioral health care.” Several board members warned that approving individual surgical or personal health expenditures could quickly deplete limited funds and create a lasting expectation that KFA grants will pay for medical procedures. Sarah said, “I’m a no,” stressing the need to avoid creating a dangerous precedent. Robin and Sandra also voiced concerns about after‑the‑fact approvals and asked for a clear, public list of unallowable expenses going forward.

Other board members urged empathy for providers operating “in the trenches,” and noted the emergency nature of the twisted‑bowel surgery made advance approval impractical. One board member said approving this one time could prevent two clients from facing large medical bills; another proposed handling the payments outside the grantee award so the decision would not set policy for KFA grants.

Sunflower Foundation finance staff explained that grantees receive periodic payments and that some funds remain withheld until final reporting; if an expenditure is disallowed, the grantee would have to revise its final financial report and possibly return funds. Shanna Zimmer (Sunflower Foundation) reminded the board that grantee Letters of Agreement require prior approval for budget changes.

After discussion, Pat George proposed tabling the New Beginnings request to the board’s July meeting so staff could consult further with legal counsel and present options. The board agreed to table the request and to revisit it at the July 11 meeting.

The board also discussed next steps to publish clearer guidance on allowable and unallowable expenses for future RFPs and to integrate unallowable lists into outreach to grantees.

The action was procedural: the board tabled New Beginnings’ request for reclassification of the $26,341 in medical expenses and asked staff to return with legal guidance and recommendations at the July meeting.