Advocacy in Action (August 2024): KABC Discusses "Problem Facilities" and the Urgent Need for Reform

Libby Hastings • September 9, 2024

In a recent podcast episode and article with the Kansas Reflector, Dan Goodman, KABC Executive Director, and Libby Hastings, Communication and Public Relations Coordinator, shed light on the critical issues facing nursing facilities in Kansas. Interviewed by Tim Carpenter, they discussed the alarming findings from the Long-Term Care Community Coalition's latest data regarding "problem facilities" and the federal staffing mandate from U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

 

This conversation was based on the insights shared in our July e-newsletter Advocacy in Action article and has garnered significant attention. Media outlets and local newspapers in Hays, Dodge City, Ottawa, and Wichita have picked up the Kansas Reflector story, amplifying the urgent need for reform in long-term care. 

 

Goodman also spoke with Abby Wray with KAKE News in Wichita to continue the discussion on "problem facilities" and poor care in Kansas nursing facilities.

 

At KABC, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure quality long-term care for all Kansas residents. We invite you to read our article with Tim Carpenter and listen to the podcast episode. Your support and engagement are crucial as we continue to fight for improved care standards.

 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our supporters and the media for helping us share the harsh realities of nursing homes. Together, we can drive the change needed to ensure safe, dignified, and quality care for all residents in Kansas.

Advocacy in Action (September 2025): KABC Testifies on FY26 Budgets

By Libby Hastings • September 3, 2025
Dan Goodman, KABC Executive Director, recently provided testimony to both the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) during their Fiscal Year 2026 budget hearings. Our message was clear: Kansas must invest in systems that protect the dignity, independence, and well-being of older Kansans. Key Recommendations from KABC Protect Access to In-Home Services • Projected shortfalls of $27M in FY26 and $70M in FY27 threaten the HCBS Frail Elderly Waiver. • Without funding, older Kansans may face a waitlist for services, leading to premature nursing home placement. Strengthen Care Coordination • Frail Elderly, Physically Disabled, and Brain Injury waiver recipients currently lack dedicated case management. • KABC urged implementation of the long-overdue $20M Community Care Coordination Service. Improve Oversight & Resident Protections (KDADS) • Surveyor vacancies are near 50%, delaying inspections and weakening resident protections. • We called for wage increases and innovative staffing models to close gaps in oversight. Increase the Personal Needs Allowance • Nursing home residents in Kansas receive only $62/month for personal expenses. • KABC supports raising this allowance—closer to the $70 national average—and tying it to cost-of-living adjustments. Continue the Statewide Senior Resource Guide (KDADS) • KABC requested $150,000 to maintain and distribute the statewide guide annually. • This investment ensures older Kansans have access to accurate, trusted information on care and services. Why It Matters By 2030, more than 20% of Kansans will be age 65 or older. Budget decisions made today will directly impact whether older Kansans can age with dignity, safety, and independence. Read KABC’s full testimonies to KDADS here and KDHE here .

Facility #2, 3, 4, and 5, Interview with Steve

September 2, 2025
Steve shares his journey through multiple long-term care facilities after a major surgery, describing repeated medication errors, poor food quality, untrained staff, and systemic neglect. His story highlights how understaffing, weak oversight, and profit-driven management leave residents without advocacy and dignity.