Kansas Exits MFP Program

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.


The Kansas Capitol's second-floor rotunda features various flags, murals, and statues.

2026 Post Legislative Update

By Barb Conant • May 1, 2026
2026 legislative wrap-up for long-term care advocates in Kansas.
A hand places a red pill into a weekly medication box, surrounded by pill bottles.

The Quiet Crisis

By Libby Hastings • March 25, 2026
On March 19, 2026, a Washington Post article highlighted a recent Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services investigation that brought renewed national attention to a troubling reality inside America’s nursing homes: powerful antipsychotic drugs are being used not as treatment, but as control. The report found that some facilities are misdiagnosing residents with schizophrenia to justify prescribing antipsychotic medications. These drugs are often not approved for people with dementia and carry serious risks, including falls, strokes, and even death. In many cases, these medications are used to manage behaviors that are not dangerous, such as calling out, resisting care, or expressing distress. The result is what advocates have long warned about: the use of chemical restraints to sedate residents for staff convenience. A National Problem Decades in the Making The misuse of antipsychotic drugs in long-term care has been documented for years. In April 2024, KABC highlighted this issue in our advocacy work, noting that hundreds of thousands of nursing home residents nationwide are given antipsychotic medications, often without appropriate clinical justification. These drugs carry an FDA “black box” warning for use in older adults with dementia due to an increased risk of death. Federal efforts over the past decade have aimed to reduce unnecessary use, yet as of early 2026, approximately 17% of long-stay nursing home residents in the United States are still receiving antipsychotic medications. At the same time, recent federal policy discussions in March 2026 have raised concerns among advocates that loosening reporting requirements could reverse progress made in reducing inappropriate use. Kansas Is Not Immune This issue hits close to home. In 2022, the Kansas Legislature’s Senior Care Task Force released a report to the 2023 Legislature identifying the administration of antipsychotic medications and protections against abuse and neglect as critical areas for reform. The Task Force emphasized that these medications could have serious and even fatal consequences for older adults, particularly when used inappropriately. Advocates in Kansas have reported that up to 26% of nursing home residents, and nearly 40% of those with dementia, have been prescribed antipsychotic medications in recent years, despite well-documented risks. While some facilities have made progress, reductions in use have stalled in recent years, raising concerns that systemic issues remain unresolved. Why It Happens At its core, the misuse of antipsychotic drugs is often a symptom of deeper systemic problems, many of which have been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts and investigators point to: Chronic understaffing, intensified since 2020 Lack of training in dementia care Pressure to manage behaviors quickly Lack of person-centered practices in care Gaps in oversight and accountability Non-drug approaches, like personalized care, meaningful activities, and addressing unmet needs, are widely recognized as best practice. But they require time, staffing, and resources that many facilities continue to lack in 2026. When those supports are missing, medication restraint becomes the default. What Proper Care Should Look Like Clinical guidance has long been clear, and yet remains unchanged in 2026. Antipsychotic medications should be a last resort, used only when: Non-drug interventions have failed The resident poses a risk to themselves or others The benefits outweigh the serious risks Even then, they should be used cautiously, closely monitored, and regularly reevaluated. The Path Forward for Kansas Kansas has an opportunity, and an obligation, to act. Building on the 2022 Senior Care Task Force recommendations, advocates continue in 2025–2026 to call for: Expanded access to geriatric mental health specialists Stronger oversight and enforcement Improved training in dementia and person-centered care Greater transparency for residents and families Meaningful solutions to the ongoing staffing crisis At its heart, this is about dignity. Older adults in Kansas adult care homes deserve care that respects their humanity, not treatment that silences it.