If it isn't broke ...

There has been a great deal of discussion during the first month of the legislative session regarding an executive order issued by Gov. Sam Brownback that calls for the administration of the state's Medicaid program through a managed care program called "KanCare."

The Alliance for Kansans with Developmental Disabilities is an organization that represents 15 facilities in Kansas that serves hundreds of people with developmental disabilities throughout Kansas. The alliance applauds the efforts of Gov. Brownback in his efforts to stem the tide of increasing expenditures in the Kansas Medicaid program. We would, however, prefer to have services to people with DD remain in the efficient combination of state oversight and private, community-based providers to support those receiving services.

The state's DD population is different from the other Medicaid recipients. Most DD recipients were born with lifelong disabilities and might require 24-hour-per-day care; so preventive care and wellness programs will have little impact on the cost or well-being for this category of recipient.

Community-based providers, including members of the alliance, are a model to the nation for their exemplary service of Kansas' DD population and at the same time have held down costs. This year, the actual Medicaid costs per person for DD programs is virtually the same as it was 19 years ago, in 1993.

As the old expression goes, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Kansas' DD population, as well as the state's taxpayers, would be best served to exempt DD services from the proposed managed care plan and continue the administration of this program in its current method.

Kansans should write to the governor urging his administration to reconsider exempting DD services from managed care, since it clearly operates in a sound and efficient manner while serving thousands of special people in our society.

Richard Shank, Alliance for Kansans with Developmental Disabilities, Hutchinson