CMS granted a 12-month extension of KanCare, Kansas' privatized Medicaid program, after an earlier request was denied because the program was not in compliance with federal requirements, according to The Wichita Eagle.
Federal officials initially denied the extension in January after investigators found issues regarding the program's administration, including improper oversight by the state and failure to provide clear and consistent information to beneficiaries.
The extension gives the Kansas Department of Health and Environment time to implement its corrective action plan to ensure regulatory compliance and draft a new version of KanCare.
"Our focus on outcomes for patients is resulting in better all-around care for patients across the state," Kansas' Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, who helped establish the state's Medicaid program, told The Wichita Eagle. "We look forward to continuing to take an innovative and conservative approach to healthcare that controls costs and results in better health outcomes for Kansans."