Volume 9, Number 1

August, 2009

New Premium Administrator and New Policies

By Mary Ellen O'Brien Wright, Working Healthy Program Senior Manager



On July 1st, Working Healthy premium billing and collection moved to a new contractor; Electronic Data Systems (EDS) is now managing Working Healthy. EDS is also managing premium billing for two other KHPA programs, HealthWave and the State Employees Health Program. With the move to EDS, a number of changes have occurred. 



Working Healthy premiums are now billed on the 1st and 15th days of the month. Premium payments are due by the last day of the month. EDS offers the following options for monthly premium payments:



• Mail a check or money order to a post office box 

• Manage Working Healthy premium bills on the Internet 

• Setup recurring automatic payment 

• Make immediate payments online or over the phone 

• Pay using drafts from checking/savings accounts (payments will be deducted the 5th day of the month) 

There are also Working Healthy premium policy changes that are particularly important for 

premium payers to know: 



• Premium payments must be current at all times; premium re-payment agreements have been discontinued. 

• Working Healthy coverage will stop if premium payments are late, and not begin again until all premiums are paid in full. 

• Accounts that are sent to State Debt Set Off (SDSO) will be assessed a 17% collection fee. 

• There will be an $8.00 fee for checks with insufficient funds.

Benefits Specialist Corner

This issue features Working Healthy Benefits Specialist Dan Hallacy. Dan covers the Southeast portion of the state,including the counties of Osage, Franklin, Miami, Coffey, Anderson, Linn, Woodson, Allen, Bourbon, Wilson, Neosho, Crawford, Montgomery, Labette and Cherokee. He can be reached by phone at 620-342-2505 ext. 330 or by emailing Dan.Hallacy@srs.ks.gov.

Celebrate

Every Fourth of July is celebrated in a time-honored way: cookouts with ice cream and summer drinks, parades with bands marching in uniforms down main street and lots of fireworks of all descriptions. All these events are to celebrate the birth of our nation. Even in the infancy of our nation, celebrations were often held outside, toasting and saluting 13 times for the 13 original colonies. Fireworks were, from early time, a feature of this celebration. 

July also represents another birthday, the birth and implementation of Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK). It was in this month two years ago (2007) that Kansas initiated the start of this life-changing program. WORK is growing and becoming more popular as the months go by. 

Working Healthy allows individuals with disabilities the opportunity to either go back to work since the onset of their disability or it might allow them to work more without fear of losing their medical coverage. WORK, provides personal assistance services and other employment-related supports to those eligible. 

Unless you have been residing on a deserted island, we all know what a poor state our economy is in and that the government is looking to make changes in our health care system. Some Kansans are already ahead of the curve and benefiting from Working Healthy/WORK. Sometimes systems change happens in small increments and this program is proof that life-changing things can come from small programs. 

Although there are not 57 signatures as on the foot of our Declaration of Independence, the start of the WORK program can also be celebrated in July for giving freedom to a few and ever-growing number of proud Kansans. - Dan Hallacy, Benefits Specialist

Working Healthy Premium Billing - Answers to Important Questions

When will I get my premium bill each month? 



You will receive your premium bill shortly after the first or fifteenth day of the month. 

When will my premium be due?



Your premium payment is due by the last business day of the month. 

Where do I send my premium payments?



EDS Kansas Premiums 

P. O. Box 842195 

Dallas, TX 75284-2195 

Do I need to send anything with my payment? 



Yes - tear off the payment slip at the bottom of your bill and send it with your payment in the return envelope. Please do not fold the payment slip or your payment. Be sure the “EDS Kansas Premiums” address can be seen in the address window. 

What if my premium bill is wrong? 



Call EDS and discuss your bill. If it is an accounting problem, they will take care of it. If your monthly premium amount is wrong, EDS will ask you to contact your SRS eligibility worker to have it changed. EDS will make the change once your eligibility worker contacts them. 

How do I pay my premium?



You have several choices: 



Mail: 

• Send a check or money order to the payment address at the bottom of this letter. 

Go Online: 

• Enroll in electronic billing to set up automatic payments and see your EDS Kansas statements 

• EDS can take your payment taken directly from your checking or savings account if you give them 

your account information. 



By Phone: 

• Interactive Voice Response (IVR) - You can make a payment using our automated service by calling 

1-866-923-2724 

• Agent - To make a payment by speaking with an agent, please call 1-866-688-5009. 

Who do I call to find out about my eligibility for Working Healthy? 

If you have questions about your current coverage or need to request coverage changes, please contact your SRS eligibility worker. 

What if I don’t know my SRS eligibility worker’s name? 

The EDS representative will give you a toll-free number for the SRS office in your area. You can call that number and ask them to help you get in touch with your worker. 

Who do I contact for questions about my bill or to mail in payments?

For questions about your bill, please call EDS Member Services toll-free at 1-866-688-5009 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. If you have a hearing impairment, please call the Kansas Relay Service at 1-800-766-3777. 

Payment Address:

EDS Kansas Premiums  

P. O. Box 842195

Dallas, TX 75284-2195 

Correspondence Address:

EDS Kansas Premiums

P.O. BOX 1778

Topeka, KS 66601

Working Healthy Employment Initiatives

By Daniel Lassley, Working Healthy Employment Specialist

Business Leadership Networks 



The Greater Kansas City Business Leadership Network (GKCBLN) held its kick-off event May 19th with over 75 people representing more than 40 businesses in attendance. Katherine McCary,Executive Vice President of SunTrust Bank and former president of the U.S. Business Leadership Network shared her experiences in leading a culture change at SunTrust, where people with disabilities are now welcomed as employees. Keith Wiedenkeller, GKCBLN President, was excited to see so many area employers taking an interest in strengthening their businesses while improving the lives of people with so many talents to share. In the future, GKCBLN will be hosting quarterly events to educate employers and promote successful recruitment, hiring, and management practices for people with disabilities. 

North Central Kansas Workforce Solutions, a division of community service provider OCCK, hosted a meeting of its Business Advisory Council (BAC) on May 27th in Salina. Approximately 15 businesses attended the meeting to learn more about the business case for hiring people with disabilities and ways that the BAC can partner with community service providers to implement best practices. The BAC is looking for a lead business and will then focus on an agenda for future activities. 

Finally, we are in the process of identifying core businesses that will form a BLN in the greater Wichita area. Input from the Local Area 4 Workforce Investment Board and regional Chambers of Commerce is being sought. An initial meeting will be held by the end of the summer. 

State Civil Service Jobs Program 



The proposal to implement a program to speed the hiring of people with disabilities in State Civil Service jobs has been put on hold. The Kansas Department of Administration, which developed the proposal, is waiting for an endorsement from a committee made up of cabinet-level representatives that is to review statewide policies and procedures regarding the employment of people with disabilities. No future meetings of this committee have been scheduled, so the outcome of the proposed policy is unknown. 

DON'T FORGET THE 11TH KANSAS DISABILITY CAUCUS WILL BE HELD IN TOPEKA ON AUGUST 12, 13, AND 14! FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT SILCK AT 1-800-217-4525.

Enrollment Update



By Noelle Kurth, M.S., KU Research & Evaulation Team

Seven years ago this July, Working Healthy began enrolling its first participants. In those last few months of 2002, enrollment expectations were shattered with over 200 participating. Enrollment has continued to grow over the years (see Figure 1 below) with the program experiencing growing pains, as with the implementation of Medicare Part D in 2006, growth spurts similar to those in the early months, and several changes and enhancements along the way. 

In April 2005, the Medically Improved category of eligibility was added to Working Healthy, giving those with this determination theopportunity to stay enrolled, keep necessary medical coverage, and continue working. In July 2007, personal assistance services were made available to Working Healthy enrollees with traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities and developmental disabilities. All and all, seven years and going strong! 

Working Healthy enrollees have also made quite an impact in Kansas. Over the years, the income of enrollees has increased. Th is fact has been seen and measured both in self- reported survey data and in percentage of total enrollees who pay premiums for Working Healthy. Anyone with income over 100% of Federal Poverty Level(FPL) is required to pay a premium and, 

as illustrated in Figure 1, the percentage of premium payers has increased dramatically over the past 7 years. In 2002, 20% of enrollees were paying premiums and in 2009 this percentage has reached nearly 80%. Further, Figure 2 shows the amount of money being paid back to the state in premiums by Working Healthy enrollees. This total is increasing each year both in the number of people paying premiums and in the total dollar amount being paid to off set some of their incurred Medicaid costs. 

With on-going evaluation and participant feedback, Working Healthy strives to continue to be a dynamic program – responsive to the needs of Kansans with disabilities. 



*Subject to change, as does not include retroactive enrollment in total or premium payers. 

Data Source: Kansas Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). 



Figure 1: Working Healthy Enrollment and Premium Payers 



FIGURE ONE INFORMATION: 



Title: Kansas Working Healthy Total Enrollment



July 2002: Total enrollment = 248



January 2003: Total enrollment=531



June 2003: Total enrollment = 614



January 2004: Total enrollment = 694



June 2004: Total enrollment = 764



January 2005: Total enrollment = 844



June 2005: Total enrollment = 933



January 2006: Total enrollment = 1,006



June 2006: Total enrollment = 987

January 2007: Total enrollment = 1,016

June 2007: Total enrollment = 1,049

January 2008: Total enrollment = 1,037

June 2008: Total enrollment = 1,060

January 2009: Total enrollment = 1,074*

June 2009: Total enrollment = 1,116*



*Note: Subject to change, as does not include retro-active enrollment in total or number of premium payers.

Source: Kansas InterChange Medicaid Management System (iMMIS)

Figure 2: Working Healthy Premiums by Year



FIGURE TWO INFORMATION:

2005 (n=1231): Premium dollars = $534,103

2006 (n=1276): Premium dollars = $596,319

2007 (n=1320): Premium dollars = $645,742

2008 (n=1374): Premium dollars = $717,362

Data Source: Kansas Automated Child Support Enforcementment System (KACSES)

Working Healthy is published quarterly by the University of Kansas CRL, Division of Adult Studies and the Kansas Health Policy Authority. Additional copies and copies in alternate formats are available upon request by writing the University of Kansas Division of Adult Studies, Attn: Noelle, 1122 West Campus Rd.. JRP Hall Rm. 517, Lawrence, KS 66045, by phone 785-864-7085, by emailing: pixie@ku.edu

KU Research Team:

Jean P. Hall, Principal Investigator

Michael Fox, Co-Principal Investigator

Noelle K. Kurth, Project Coordinator and Editor

Shawna Carroll & Emily Fall, Graduate Research Assistant

Emily Tonsfeldt, Student Assistant

Kansas Health Policy Authority:

Mary Ellen O'Brien Wright, Senior Manager

Nancy Scott, Program Manager

Daniel Lassley, Employment Consultant

About Working Healthy

Many people with disabilities want to work but worry that doing so could jeopardize their vital health and long term care coverage. Working Healthy offers people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to get or keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. Through Working Healthy people can earn more, save more, achieve their career goals, and still maintain their health coverage.

Working Healthy is a Medicaid program. To qualify for this program, a person must:

• Have a disability determined by Social Security;
• Be no younger than 16 and no older than 64;
• Be employed;
• Have total income of less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level;
• Not be receiving Home and Community Based Services;
• Not be living in a nursing facility; and
• Have resources that are less than $15,000.