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Medicaid Laws in Kansas

Medicaid is a health care program aimed at low-income individuals and families. It is jointly funded by the federal government and individual state governments, but operated and administered on a state basis. The general principles of the scheme and eligibility are set down by national rules, but each state determines the precise guidelines and interpretation.

  1. Eligibility

    • Four main categories of people are eligible for Medicaid coverage in Kansas: some elderly (most notably Medicare recipients with an income of less than 74 percent of the federal poverty level); disabled who receive Supplementary Security Income; children in low income families (the threshold declines as the child gets older) and parents on low incomes (less than $5,632 for a family of four as of 2011.) Coverage is also available for some women who are pregnant, have newly-born children or have either breast or cervical cancer. Non-U.S. citizens who meet all other relevant criteria are covered under the scheme.

    Checking Eligibility

    • The precise requirements for eligibility are relatively complicated. To deal with this, the state began a five-year program in September 2009 named Kansas Access to Comprehensive Health Project. This funds 14 outstations throughout the state where people can get advice and assistance in discovering if they meet the criteria.

    Services Covered

    • The Kansas Medicaid program is required by federal law to cover a range of services, notably inpatient and outpatient hospital services, X-rays, nursing home health services, screening programs for those aged under 21, family planning and midwife services and all care considered medically necessary for children.

      The state has also chosen to offer 15 of 33 optional Medicaid services. The most notable include prescription drugs, hospice care, psychiatric services for those aged under 21 or over 65, alcohol and drug counseling for pregnant women, prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses (but only where the need follows surgery).

    Administration

    • Kansas provides Medicaid coverage through a program known as HealthWave. This also provides coverage for recipients of a separate State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). A scheme known as MediKan covers some disabled people who either don't meet Medicaid requirements or are waiting review for federal disability funding.

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