BENEFITS
This page has information on various benefits available to people with disabilities, including:
News
Health law delivers $2.1 billion in savings on drugs for seniors, By Noam N. Levey , Los Angeles Times, February 02, 2012
Action Alert: Advocate for People Dually Eligible, From the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), January 27, 2012
2012 Medicare debate is all about the baby boomers, By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press, January 01. 2012
State cuts to Medicaid affect patients, providers, By Shannon McCaffery, Associated Press, December 27, 2011
Wyden Joins Forces With Ryan On Medicare, By Mary Agnes Carey, Kaiser Health News, December 14, 2011
Medicare Extends Enrollment Deadline For Some, By Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News, December 07, 2011
Medicare's December 7th Open Enrollment Deadline Nears!, From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, November 28, 2011
Big Drug Hikes in Some 2012 Medicare Plans, By Phil Moeller, U. S. News & World Report, November 28, 2011
Super Committee Urged To Alter Coverage For Some Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries, By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News, November 07, 2011
New study shows health insurance premium spikes in every state, By N.C. Aizenman, Washington Post, November 16, 2011
White House Says U.S. Reduced Improper Payments by $17.6 Billion, By Roger Runningen, Bloomberg, November 15, 2011
Hensarling Says Debt-Reduction Supercommittee May Use 'Two-Step Process', By Greg Stohr, Bloomberg, November 13, 2011
Will Budget Cuts Threaten Mental Health in Your State?, By Dr. Mirjana Jojic, ABC News, November 10, 2011
Senate Investigates Billion Dollar Health Care Scam, By Merrill Goozner, The Fiscal Times, November 08, 2011
SHIP Programs Can Help Seniors Save Money On A Medicare Drug Plan, By Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News, November 07, 2011
Beneficiary advocates hit Medicare with second class action suit, By Julian Pecquet, The Hill, November 03, 2011
Twelve Are Charged in Medicare Fraud Schemes Said to Cost $95 Million, By Kirk Semple, New York Times, November 02, 2011
Seventeen accused of Medicare fraud, By Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2011
State Medicaid Spending Skyrockets, By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News, September 14, 2011
Medicare Part B premium increase to be less than expected, By Sarah Kliff, Washington Post, September 27, 2011
States may lose big in jobs, funds if Medicaid cut, From Reuters, October 26, 2011
Federal officials target Medicare’s poor-performing drug plans, By Marilyn Werber Serafini, Washington Post, October 25, 2011
AGING AMERICA: Long-term care can bankrupt an average family, yet few carry insurance, By Associated Press/Washington Post, October 24, 2011
Advocates for disabled optimistic that CLASS Act program won’t be scrapped, By Julian Pecquet, The Hill, September 29, 2011
Dem lawmakers to fight for CLASS health program's survival, By Julian Pecquet, The Hill, September 25, 2011
Has the CLASS Act been dismissed?,By Sarah Kliff, Washington Post, September 22, 2011
CLASS Act under fire, but experts see plenty of fixes, By Joanne Kenen, Politico, September 15, 2011
Medicaid Advocates Seek Recognition Of Safety Net’s Value, By Sarah Barr , Kaiser Health News, September 14, 2011
Squeezed States Embrace Even More Medicaid Managed Care, By Christopher Weaver, Kaiser Health News, September 13, 2011
Increased Medicaid Reimbursement for Nursing Homes, Information Bulletin #339 from Steve Gold's Treasured Nuggets of Information, September 07, 2011
Republican governors announce proposals to overhaul Medicaid, By Julian Pecquet, The Hill, August 30, 2011
Uninsured Largely Unaware Of Benefits Coming From Overhaul, By Julie Rovner, National Public Radio, August 29, 2011
Nursing homes launch TV, lobbying campaign to ward off Medicare cuts, By Sam Baker, The Hill, August 29, 2011
Social Security disability on verge of insolvency, By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press, August 21, 2011
CMS expanding DME competitive-bidding program, By Jaimy Lee, Modern Healthcare, August 19, 2011
SSI Program For ADHD, Other Disabled Kids Under Scrutiny, By Jenny Gold, Kaiser Health News, August 18, 2011
Medicaid Pays Less Than Medicare for Many Prescription Drugs, U.S. Report Finds, By Robert Pear, New York Times, August 15, 2011
Medicare prescription drug costs to go down, By Kate Nocera, Politico, August 04, 2011
Governors Wary Of ‘Blending’ Federal Contribution To Medicaid, CHIP, By Mary Agnes Carey, Kaiser Health News, July 08, 2011
HHS aims to aid states with dual-eligibles' care, By Jessica Zigmond, Modern Heathcare, July 08, 2011
Advocacy Organizations and Informational Resources
Kansas Department on Aging website provides information on services for Kansas' seniors.
The Center for Medicare Advocacy works to increase access to comprehensive Medicare coverage and excellent health care for elders and people with disabilities by providing the highest quality analysis, education and advocacy.
Kansas Community Supports and Services (CSS) manages a system of community based supports and services for persons with disabilities. Those supports and services, are delivered in partnerships with organized networks and funded through a variety of federal, state, local, and private sources. Community service providers reflect a variety of private not-for-profit and for-profit organizations as well as governmental entities.
DisabilityInfo.gov is the federal government's one-stop Web site for information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and many others. This section of DisabilityInfo.gov offers a wide range of information on Social Security benefits, veterans' benefits, work incentives, supplemental insurance coverage, vocational services and other income supports.
HealthCare.gov is a new on-line tool to help consumers connect to information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage in both the public and the private sector and find other important health care information. The website is designed to be a one-stop-shop for information about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act as well as other health care resources. The website will connect consumers to quality rankings for local health care providers as well as preventive services.
The Kanas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, partnering to connect Kansans with supports and services to improve lives, protect children and promote adult self-sufficiency.
Links 4 Living provides access to Information on home and community based care resources for Kansans.
Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 or older, people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease.
Medicaid is a Federal/State entitlement program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources.
National Resource Directory (NRD) - The NRD connects Wounded Warriors, Service Members, Veterans, family members and caregivers with services and resources at the national, state and local levels that support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration.
Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) is a free program offering older Kansans an opportunity to talk with trained, community volunteers and get answers to questions about Medicare Part D and other insurance issues. SHICK provides you with many resources that will help you with your struggle through the Medicare maze.
The Social Security Administration pays retirement, disability and survivors benefits to workers and their families and administer the Supplemental Security Income program. They also issue Social Security numbers. See their Quick Guide to all Social Security services.
The Department of Veterans Affairs website provides information about veteran benefits administered by the department and their Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service to veterans, employers, and the general public.
Publications
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Programs: Data Update, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, December 19, 2008, Publication Number: 7720-02 - Developing home and community-based service (HCBS) alternatives to institutional care has been a priority for many state Medicaid programs over the last two decades. In 2005, overall spending on Medicaid HCBS increased 10 percent, with 2.8 million individuals being served through these programs. This report presents a summary of the main trends to emerge for the three Medicaid HCBS programs and the results of a survey of policies such as eligibility criteria and waiting lists.
Medicaid's Impact: Helping People with Serious Healthcare Needs - To get a sense of how important Medicaid is for people with serious health care needs, these reports look at the number of individuals in each state with cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, or heart disease or stroke who rely on Medicaid for their health coverage.
Medicare & You 2010 contains important information about what’s new, health plans, prescription drug plans, Medicare benefits, rights and protections, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare.
The Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs.
The Role of Medicaid in State Economies: A Look at the Research, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, January 09, 2009,
Publication Number: 7075-02 - This policy brief synthesizes the results of 29 studies in 23 states that examine the role Medicaid plays in state and local economies. These studies estimate the economic stimulus derived from Medicaid spending, and also analyze the adverse effects on the state economy from reducing Medicaid spending. This policy brief provides an overview of Medicaid financing, explains the methods used to assess economic impact and summarizes the main findings from the research. (Policy Brief, Summary)