Kansas Medicaid Health Homes

A health home is not a building, a nursing home, or a doctor’s office. The term “health home” refers to a new Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) option to provide coordination of physical and behavioral health care with long term services and supports (LTSS) for people with chronic conditions. Health homes expand upon medical home models to include links to community and social supports. In collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Division on Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), IHDPS staff are working with colleagues at the KU Medical Center under the leadership of Dr. Theresa Shireman, to conduct data analysis to identify the populations and sub-populations of KanCare beneficiaries who may best be served by Health Homes. 

 

Health homes focus on the whole person and all of his or her needs to manage his or her conditions to be as healthy as possible. All the caregivers in a health home communicate with one another so that all of a patient's needs are addressed in a comprehensive manner. 

 

KanCare health homes are intended for people with certain chronic conditions, like diabetes, asthma, or mental illness. These people must be KanCare consumers and have the choice to opt-out of Health Homes should they choose. They can be consumers who also receive Medicare along with Medicaid. Two Health Homes cohorts will begin July 1, 2014 for individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and individuals with Multiple Chronic Conditions and/or at-risk for other conditions.  

 

PROJECT DETAILS 

Project Contacts:  

Jean P. Hall: jhall@ku.edu 

Noelle K. Kurth: pixie@ku.edu