TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A Lawrence attorney has been appointed ombudsman for the Kansas Medicaid system known as KanCare.

The selection of James Bart was announced Wednesday by Shawn Sullivan, secretary of the state Department for Aging and Disability Services.

KanCare is the state's new system for providing Medicaid services to the poor and disabled through three managed care organizations. The new system, which recently won federal approval, takes effect Jan. 1.

Bart will be responsible for helping recipients resolve problems with access, service and benefits.

Sullivan cited Bart's experience as a member of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities. He's also a former member of an organization called the ARC of Douglas County, which provides developmental disability services in Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson and Osage counties.