- Kansas legislative committee jumps into battle over selection of Medicaid contractors (Kansas Reflector, 6/26/2024)
- The Kansas Legislature’s committee is investigating the selection process of Medicaid contractors by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), particularly the replacement of Aetna Better Health with Healthy Blue, which had a controversial exit from the program in 2018. The committee is seeking documents to understand the decision-making process, and has asked the Attorney General for guidance on obtaining procurement information. Aetna Better Health and CareSource Kansas, another bidder, have formally protested the selection process, challenging the scoring and the perceived conflict of interest due to former state employees being hired by Healthy Blue’s affiliates. The Department of Administration is reviewing these protests, with the director’s decision to be considered the final agency action.
- Kansas inspector general digs into KanCare provider organizations (Kansas Reflector, 10/31/2025)
- According to the Kansas Reflector, recent legislative changes expanded the authority of the Kansas Inspector General to investigate potential fraud and inefficiencies in state-administered social welfare programs, including Medicaid and food assistance. Lawmakers supporting the move cited concerns over program integrity and the need for independent oversight. The Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Department of Health and Environment are among the agencies now subject to broader scrutiny under these reforms.
