KABC Testifies before the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature

Libby Hastings • October 19, 2026

KABC Testifies before the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature


Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC) is urging state leaders to provide additional funding to eliminate the waitlist for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver, which helps older Kansans access the services they need to remain in their homes and communities.


In testimony submitted to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature (KSHL) on October 6th in Topeka, KABC Executive Director Dan Goodman emphasized the importance of preserving access to in-home care and preventing older adults from entering nursing facilities before they need that level of care.


The FE waiver waitlist, implemented July 6, 2026, has already affected hundreds of older Kansans. Without additional funding, more people could face delays in receiving essential services, potentially accelerating health declines and increasing the likelihood of premature nursing home placement.


KABC is recommending $31 million in additional funding for the FE waiver in fiscal year 2027 to address projected funding shortfalls and help eliminate the waitlist.


Kansas Silver Haired Legislature Sets 2027 Priorities


On October 7 and 8, 65 delegates representing regions across Kansas gathered on the floor of the Kansas House of Representatives in Topeka for the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature's annual session. During the session, delegates approved five resolutions outlining their legislative priorities for 2027.


The resolutions focus on supporting older Kansans' independence, financial security, access to care and participation in civic life. The five priorities are:

  • Fund senior transportation
  • Protect in-home care
  • Increase funding for the FE waiver to help older Kansans receive care in their homes and communities. KABC supports this priority and is urging the state to add $31 million in funding for fiscal year 2027 to eliminate the FE waiver waitlist.
  • Strengthen Medicaid
  • Raise the Personal Needs Allowance
  • Increase the Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents who receive Medicaid
  • Protect senior voting rights


These priorities address interconnected challenges facing older Kansans, from accessing transportation and affordable care to maintaining independence and financial security.


The Importance of Care at Home


The FE waiver was established to help older Kansans access community-based services that allow them to remain in their homes for as long as possible, delaying or avoiding the need for more costly institutional care.


These services can make a significant difference in an older adult's ability to maintain independence, health and quality of life. When needed support is unavailable, however, individuals and families may have fewer options for managing care at home.


Kansas already faces challenges in this area. According to the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings, Kansas ranks 47th in the nation for placing low-care residents in nursing facilities. KABC is concerned that limiting access to home- and community-based services could contribute to further premature institutionalization.


The Cost of Delayed Access


The potential impact of the waitlist is significant. According to KABC's testimony, the state faces a projected $31 million shortfall for the FE waiver in fiscal year 2027, putting access to critical in-home services at risk.

Historical data also illustrate the potential scope of the problem.


In 2003, a similar FE waiver waitlist affected approximately 20% of eligible participants. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) reports that 9,306 Kansans are currently eligible for the waiver. Applying that historical 20% figure to today's eligible population suggests that approximately 1,861 older Kansans could be affected in fiscal year 2027.


While this estimate is based on a historical comparison, it underscores the potential consequences of insufficient funding.


Investing in Older Kansans



The goal is to help older Kansans receive the services they need when they need them, rather than risk declining health or entering institutional care because community-based options are unavailable.


As Dan Goodman emphasized in his testimony, investing in home- and community-based services offers an opportunity to support older adults' independence while potentially avoiding the greater costs associated with premature institutionalization.


The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature's 2027 priorities provide a framework for addressing the needs of older Kansans across the state. KABC's support for increased FE waiver funding aligns with the Legislature's call to protect in-home care and ensure older adults have meaningful choices about where and how they receive care.


KABC will continue advocating for policies and resources that protect older Kansans' access to quality long-term care, wherever they call home.

2026 Caregiver Training and Membership Meeting

By Libby Hastings • September 21, 2026
On Thursday, September 10th, KABC hosted our annual caregiver training, with speaker Jessica Clossen, and membership meeting. Over 30 people attended!  The meeting began with a brief introduction to KABC by Libby Hastings, Communications and PR coordinator. Afterward, Karen Weber, KABC Board Vice President, led the membership meeting. During the membership and business meeting, Karen Weber (Vice President), Dave Ranney (Secretary), Rachel Stahle, Dustin Baker, and Deborah Merrill were unanimously voted to retain their current board positions. During the caregiver training portion, Navigation Memory Care: Knowing When It Is Time & How To Choose, Jessica Clossen discussed important tips for navigating memory care, including: The hidden cost of waiting too long and caregiver burnout Defining memory care Memory care transition guidance What to look for in a memory care setting Staffing and training Culture and activities Dining and daily routines We are so incredibly thankful to Jessica for sharing her time and expertize with our attendees. If you'd like to connect with Jessica Clossen, email her at jclossen@dementia-care-consulting.com or call 913-585-5178 . To view the recording of our 2026 caregiver training and membership meeting, please visit our YouTube page here. A copy of the presentation slides is available here .
A nursing home room with two hospital beds and a wheelchair

Kansas Exits MFP Program

By Libby Hastings • May 31, 2026
Kansas has announced that it is exiting the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, citing a drastic reduction in and possible elimination of federal funding. According to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), the state had planned to reinstate the program on July 1 after several years of inactivity. Instead, Kansas is now withdrawing from the program altogether. For many Kansans, this decision represents a significant missed opportunity. The MFP program was created to help states rebalance their long-term services and supports systems by making it easier for people to move from institutional settings, such as nursing facilities, back into homes and communities. The program provided funding for critical transition expenses, including home modifications, furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, and other necessities that help make community living possible. At its core, MFP recognized a simple truth: most people want to live in their own homes and communities, not institutions. Research consistently shows that older adults overwhelmingly prefer to age in place. In an AARP survey, 75 percent of older adults reported wanting to remain in their homes as they age. Yet many feel they will eventually have no choice but to move into a facility because the supports needed to remain at home are unavailable or unaffordable. Programs like MFP help bridge that gap. When people remain in nursing facilities despite being able to live safely in the community, there are consequences, not only for the individual, but for the state as a whole. First, individuals lose autonomy and control over their daily lives. Living in the community allows people to decide when they wake up, what they eat, who they spend time with, and how they participate in their neighborhoods. These choices may seem small, but they are fundamental to dignity and quality of life. Second, unnecessary institutionalization can contribute to social isolation. People living in their own homes can remain connected to friends, family, faith communities, volunteer opportunities, and local activities. Community integration promotes both physical and emotional well-being. Third, keeping people in nursing facilities when they could thrive in the community often comes at a higher cost to the Medicaid system. Home and community-based services are frequently less expensive than institutional care while also aligning with what most people prefer. Helping individuals remain in the least restrictive setting can benefit both taxpayers and the people receiving services. Finally, programs like MFP help remove barriers that prevent people from exercising their right to choose where they receive care. Transitioning from a nursing facility to the community is often not as simple as opening the front door and leaving. Many individuals need assistance securing housing, obtaining household items, modifying their homes for accessibility, or coordinating services. Without dedicated funding and support, these barriers can become insurmountable. Kansas has made progress over the years in expanding home and community-based services, but significant challenges remain. Housing shortages, workforce shortages among direct care workers, and waiting lists for services continue to make community living difficult for many people. The loss of Money Follows the Person means one fewer tool available to help Kansans return home.