By the Topeka Capital-Journal, January 19, 2010
Kansas health care providers and beneficiaries in the Medicaid and HealthWave programs won't lose a toll-free number used to resolve payment and billing issues.
The Kansas Health Policy Authority had planned on eliminating the call center after Gov. Mark Parkinson ordered the agency to cut its administrative costs by $1.13 million in November. Eliminating the call center was to save about $250,000.
Kansas Health Policy Authority now says it has reached an agreement with HP Enterprise Services, which serves as the fiscal agent contractor for the Kansas Medicaid and HealthWave program. An alternative plan to keep the call center open emerged from negotiations. While HP will take a cut in payments now and keep the call center open, the KHPA has extended HP's contract for two years through 2013 and added two additional one-year extension options.
"This call center is vitally important, both to the health care providers who serve Medicaid patients as well as Medicaid beneficiaries," said KHPA Acting Medicaid Director Barb Langner.
The center receives about 250,000 calls per year.