The Kansas Area Agencies on Aging Association (K4A) represents the 11 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in Kansas that collectively serve all 105 counties in the state. The AAAs provide assessments for community-based and facility-based services, information, care management and many other services for Kansas seniors. In Kansas, AAAs are the “single point of entry,” coordinating the delivery of publicly-funded community-based services. The Area Agency on Aging system is federally, state and locally funded and locally administered. Consequently, service delivery/decisions are made in the community, the level closest to the seniors needing services.

The Area Agencies on Aging in Kansas are part of a national network of 655 AAAs established by Congress in the Older Americans Act of 1965. The Area Agencies on Aging carry out their federal mandate as “the Leader” on aging issues at the local level. The Kansas Area Agencies on Aging Association works to improve services and supports for all older Kansans and their caregivers.

To meet the needs of Kansas seniors and to accomplish K4A Legislative Policy Priorities K4A urges:

Legislation:

• HB 2578 - Legislation to establish a program through which unused prescription drugs (from nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice, etc.) may be distributed for use by medically indigent persons.
• HB 2404 - Legislation to exempt purchases made by the eight not-for-profit Area Agencies on Aging from sales taxes that are not levied on the AAAs supported through governmental entities.

Budget:

• K4A urges $1,569, 674 to fund Access to Core Services
  Changes in federal policy by CMS seriously affect the Area Agencies on Aging’s (AAA) financial ability to access customers.  These changes significantly impact the Medicaid reimbursement rates paid to AAAs.  Area Agencies on Aging have no way to cover and cannot absorb these necessary costs that are no longer reimbursed under Medicaid.
• K4A urges full funding of Home and Community Based Services for the Frail Elderly waiver (HCBS-FE) in FY 2008.
• The HCBS-FE waiver program prevents the premature institutionalization of Kansas’ senior population.
• By keeping seniors in the community as long as possible, last year, the HCBS-Frail Elderly waiver program saved the state on average $7,757 per person ($19,392 all funds) over the cost of institutional care. The total savings to the state is $45,144,576 annually ($112,861,440 all funds) based on 5,820 seniors served.
• K4A recommends funding of the Senior Care Act without a waiting list and urges funding of preventive services under the Senior Care Act.
• Basic care such as meals, homemaker, attendant care and others is available - often the key to allowing a person to stay in the community and to avoid entering the Medicaid system.
• The area of preventive services was amended into the Senior Care in 2005 but no funding was added for these services.  Programs that promote healthy aging have been documented to provide a better quality of life for the senior and reduced health care costs for the state.
• K4A recommends the Rapid Referral and Case Management in Kansas hospitals.
  The project piloting the Rapid Referral and Case Management showed significant improvement in coordination of community services and keeping seniors and those with disabilities in their homes, diverting them from placement in nursing homes and reducing occurrences of re-hospitalization.
• K4A recommends the addition of $1,007,672 (all SGF) for nutrition programs.
  The additional funding would be used to address the new federal minimum wage requirement.

Legislation Supported

• K4A supports a state-wide effort of improve geriatric mental health within our Kansas communities.  K4A advocates for funding for this core service flow through the Area Agencies on Aging whose role is to plan for community needs for the elder population within their service area.
• K4A supports the Silver Haired Legislatures initiative for adding two long-term care ombudsmen.
• K4A supports the efforts to improve the Grandparents as Caregivers legislation.
• K4A urges the promotion of employment programs and policies that meet the needs of older workers.