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Navigating In-Home Service Options: Resources Beyond Private Pay in Kansas

Libby Hastings • June 12, 2024

When it comes to finding the right in-home services for yourself or a loved one, navigating the myriad of options can be daunting. Fortunately, in Kansas, there are comprehensive resources available that extend beyond private pay companies, ensuring that individuals of all ages, abilities, and income levels can access the support they need. Here’s a closer look at some of these invaluable resources.


The Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)


The Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) serves as a one-stop shop for individuals seeking long-term service and support. Whether you are an older adult, a person with a disability, or a caregiver, the ADRC offers objective information and personalized counseling to help you make informed decisions about your care options.


Operated by the eleven Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) across the state, the ADRC provides:


  • Coverage Across Kansas: No matter where you live in Kansas, ADRC ensures you have access to a wide array of support options tailored to your individual preferences, strengths, and values.
  • Statewide Call Center: Reach out to knowledgeable staff for information, referrals, and assistance with community services via the statewide call center at 855-200-2372.
  • Functional Assessments: The ADRC conducts assessments to determine eligibility for Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) programs and nursing facility placements.


Senior Care Act Program


The Kansas Legislature established the Senior Care Act program to support older Kansans who can live in the community with some assistance. This program is designed for residents aged 60 or older who have functional limitations in self-care and independent living. Services vary by county but typically include:


  • Attendant care
  • Respite care
  • Homemaker support
  • Chore services
  • Adult daycare


Participants contribute to the cost of services based on their ability to pay. The program is administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) through the AAAs.


Older Americans Act (OAA) Programs


Enacted by Congress in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) addresses the lack of social services for older adults in the community. The OAA offers:


  • Legal assistance
  • Caregiver support
  • In-home services
  • Transportation
  • Nutrition programs


These services are typically free or available on a contribution basis. Like the Senior Care Act, the OAA programs are administered by KDADS through the AAAs.


Medicare and Medicaid In-Home Services


If you are under a physician’s care and require home health care services, Medicare or Medicaid might cover these services for short-term needs, provided there is an established care plan. Coverage requires using a home health agency certified for Medicare and Medicaid services. Additional financial support may come from:


  • Private insurance
  • Medicare supplements
  • Long-term care insurance


Many home health agencies also offer private pay options for those needing additional or non-covered services.


Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Programs


For those needing more extensive support, the HCBS programs may be an option. To participate, you must:


  • Be approved for Medicaid (KanCare)
  • Meet the functional eligibility criteria


The initial assessment is carried out by the AAAs, such as the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging for residents in Douglas County. HCBS programs are coordinated by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) under KanCare, and care plans might include:


  • Adult Day Care
  • Personal Care Services
  • Personal Emergency Response
  • Home Telehealth
  • Medication Reminders
  • Enhanced Care Services, and more


The HCBS Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver is aimed at adults aged 65+ who meet the criteria for nursing home placement, are Medicaid eligible, and require assistance with activities of daily living.

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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