June 4, 2024
Waiting List Reduction
This years legislative session ended with the approval of 500 individuals coming off the waiting list and capping the waiting list at 4800 individuals.
The Kansas Legislature passed the largest HCBS waiting list reduction in history and the State will be sending out letters to hundreds of families across the State this month. Over 180 of those will be for our families here in Sedgwick and Butler Counties. For families who have been waiting 10+ years this is wonderful news. It will also be pulling people off who applied early in 2016, so theoretically reducing the waiting list to 8 years. There was also a cap put in place, so that the list cannot grow beyond 4,800 individuals again, in hopes of continuing to shorten the wait.
What to know
Respond. If you receive a letter follow the directions and contact your case manager, if you have one. If you do not respond your slot could go to someone else.
Take a service. You may not want or need residential or day program supports, but do not simply turn down your HCBS service slot or you will have to start over.
Be patient. That’s hard to hear after 10 years, but with the flood of people coming into the system it will take time for the CDDO and providers to provide intake and
service. Agencies are still poorly funded & understaffed and this lack of capacity in the system may slowdown getting started for some services.
Make sure your contact information is current. If you are unsure if your contact information is current, call and confirm. If you know you applied for HCBS services before 2016 and have not received a letter by the end of June, contact your CDDO and confirm the information. People move, phone numbers change and people get lost in the system. The State is sending an additional 200 offers assuming some people will not be found, respond or take any services.
