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Advocacy in Action (September 2024): KABC Testifies at the Bob Bethell KanCare Oversight Committee

Libby Hastings • October 1, 2024

On Monday, August 26th, Libby Hastings, Communication and Public Relations Coordinator, had the honor of presenting testimony on behalf of KABC to the Robert G. Bethell Joint Committee on Home & Community Based Services & KanCare Oversight Committee. Our goal was clear: to advocate for the reinstatement of the "Explore Your Options" (EYO) resource guide, a vital tool for older Kansans and their caregivers.

In recent months, our work with the Douglas County Senior Resource Directory has underscored the critical need for a comprehensive resource guide. Since launching the directory, we've seen firsthand how essential it is for older adults to have access to reliable, up-to-date information about the services and resources available to them. The response to our directory has been overwhelmingly positive, with individuals and families expressing their appreciation for a resource that helps them navigate the complexities of long-term care. 


The importance of the EYO guide was highlighted in the Final Report of the Kansas Senior Care Task Force to the 2023 Kansas Legislature. A key recommendation from the Task Force was for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to reinstitute the EYO guide, which would provide a centralized, accessible source of information for older adults across the state. The guide would be published online and in print, ensuring that those without internet access can still benefit from this essential resource.


The need for such a guide is urgent. As one of the working groups from the Kansas Senior Care Task Force noted, it is critical for older adults and caregivers to know where to access service information and resources when the need for long-term supports and services arises. The lack of access to reliable, accurate information can lead to frustration, confusion, and potentially harmful outcomes for seniors and their families. 


While some areas of the state, like Johnson County and Central Plains, have found ways to create their own versions of the EYO guide, most counties do not have the resources or capacity to do so without state assistance. That’s why we’re asking this committee to encourage and support KDADS in bringing back the EYO guide. By doing so, we can ensure that all older Kansans, regardless of where they live, have the information they need to make informed decisions about their care. 

Advocacy in Action (April 2025): Legislative Recap

April 2, 2025
As we move further into 2025, we want to share an update on our legislative advocacy efforts this session. KABC remains committed to championing policies that protect and support older adults and individuals in long-term care. Here’s a look at key legislative developments and where things stand:
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Opinion Piece from Dave Ranney, KABC Board Member

By Dave Ranney • April 1, 2025
Opinion piece from Dave Ranney, current KABC Board Member and retired newspaper reporter: In a recent Kansas News Service story on Sen. Roger Marshall’s appearance at a town hall meeting in Oakley, Kansas, (pop. 1,982), a board member with the local nursing home said he’d hoped to hear about issues “…affecting nursing homes right now. Rural hospitals are hurting but all people wanted to do was scream at the senator.” The board member’s concerns are valid and deeply troubling. Cuts in Medicaid spending will be devastating. Medicaid is the backbone of long-term care in Kansas; 57 percent of the state’s nursing home residents rely on Medicaid for their care. These are frail elders whose estates have been depleted. They have no money. Medicaid reimbursement rates are, at best, break-even. They’re not ‘profit centers.’ Even a small reduction in rates will push many rural facilities to the brink of closure. Quality of care, too, is sure to suffer. Medicare, unfortunately, does not cover nursing home care. Rural families will be left with no choice but to move their loved ones far from home to receive the care they need and deserve. Already, eight of the state’s 105 counites are without a nursing home; at least 40 have only one. National surveys have found that a fourth of the nursing homes in Kansas are providing sub-standard care, usually due to inadequate staffing. Recruiting and retaining nurses and healthcare staff in small towns is critical. The board member would do well to consider what’ll happen when DOGE figures out that Medicaid is paying for care that often falls short of federal standard. Lawmakers on both the state and national levels have a responsibility to ensure stable Medicaid funding to keep existing facilities open while, at the same time, investing in community-based services that offer lower-cost, in-home care options that allow people to remain in their communities. Sincerely, Dave Ranney Dave Ranney is a retired newspaper reporter, he lives in Lawrence, Kansas.
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