2002.02.15:HHS Approves Kansas Plan to Protect Health Coverage for Working Disabled

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Feb. 15, 2002

Contact:

CMS Press Office
(202) 690-6145

HHS APPROVES KANSAS PLAN TO PROTECT HEALTH COVERAGE FOR WORKING DISABLED

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved a Kansas plan to allow people with disabilities who return to work to retain their Medicaid coverage - removing a key barrier that will allow more disabled Kansans to lead productive lives.

"Most people with disabilities want to work and live independently, and Kansas is now making it possible for Kansans with disabilities to find and keep jobs without the fear of losing their health care coverage," Secretary Thompson said. "President Bush and I are committed to knocking down barriers so that all Americans with disabilities can participate more fully in community life."

With today's approval, Kansas will extend its Medicaid eligibility to cover working people with disabilities, ages 16 to 64, with family incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level and with assets of up to $15,000. Eligible beneficiaries with family incomes above the federal poverty level (FPL) will pay a premium based on a sliding fee scale. (The FPL for a family of four is $18,100.) Kansas expects the change will help nearly 1,000 workers with disabilities.

The change supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, a government-wide framework for helping provide people with disabilities with the tools they need to fully access and participate in their communities. Kansas was able to make the change in part due to grants from HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which gave states greater flexibility to assist workers with disabilities under the Medicaid program.

Kansas received nearly $530,000 in Ticket to Work grants last year and will receive an additional $500,000 this year. These funds directly assisted in this expansion by paying for staff and administrative changes needed for the change. In addition, Kansas has plans to expand services to include consumer-directed personal assistance services for the disabled within the next year - also with the help of the Ticket to Work grants.

"Today's approval will further enable those with a disability to work in a competitive environment," CMS Administrator Tom Scully said. "Keeping people in the workplace is the goal of this landmark legislation."

Since taking office, Secretary Thompson has worked to improve access to health care through innovative coverage programs in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Since January 2001, HHS has approved waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to about 1.8 million people and enhanced benefits for about 4.5 million people.

More information about President Bush's New Freedom Initiative is available at www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/. Information about HHS' ongoing efforts to implement the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act is available at cms.hhs.gov/twwiia/default.asp.

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