KanCare is the commercially run managed care version of the Kansas Medicaid program. The next step in program implementation according to the Kansas Health Institute is to begin a health home model for the state’s 36,000 mentally ill.
Health Home does not mean care will be provided in the home, but that care will be coordinated. Physical and metal health providers work together to prevent or minimize health crisis.
The Affordable Health Care Act pays a greater percentage, 90%, of charges for participants using the health home model versus the current reimbursement of 60%. This rate is effective for the first two years.
The Health Home model has had good results in Missouri where they have realized $4 million in net savings, and a reduction in the number of behavioral health admissions. Missouri was on of the first states to implement the holistic, health home approach.
This element of KanCare has a target implementation date of Jan. 1, 2014.
