KDHE Secures $4.6 Million Grant for Medicaid Program

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has obtained a $4.6 million grant dedicated to the state’s Medicaid program, specifically through the Kancare initiative. Funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), this grant will be distributed over the next four years. The objective is to enhance continuity of care for individuals eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) while they are incarcerated and after their release.

KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek commented on the grant, indicating that it will lay the essential groundwork for Medicaid and the state to assist correctional facilities, ensuring that those who are incarcerated gain access to necessary healthcare services as they reintegrate into society. She expressed gratitude for the strong collaborations that have been formed between KDHE and correctional facilities throughout Kansas.

The strategies aimed at maintaining continuity of care are designed to help Medicaid participants stay engaged with their healthcare. This connection aids them in seeking medical attention in appropriate settings and accessing preventive care, which ultimately benefits their health and can help reduce costly emergency interventions and rates of reincarceration.

This grant also aligns with the youth reentry provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA). The CAA mandates that juvenile inmates eligible for Medicaid and CHIP can receive these services within 30 days of their release or sentencing.

Grant activities include:

• Identifying and addressing operational gaps.
• Creating a standardized system to assess inmates’ KanCare or CHIP enrollment status.
• Investing in information technology to facilitate the sharing of health information.
• Setting up oversight and monitoring processes to ensure compliance.

The Kansas Medicaid Program aims to establish reliable, secure, and efficient information sharing standards among entities involved in care transitions and treatment coordination.

Christine Osterlund, KDHE Agency Integration Deputy Director and Kansas Medicaid Director, stated, “This Continuity of Care grant is a pivotal advancement for how Kansas aids individuals who are transitioning back into the community after incarceration.” She emphasized that by enhancing information sharing and standardizing processes, the state can better address obstacles to care and ensure that Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries receive vital services to foster healthy, sustainable futures.

This funding will be instrumental in supporting Kansas’ initiatives to assist populations that face higher risks of adverse health outcomes.

For further details regarding the grant, please refer to the CMS State Planning Grants.