The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services will be meeting with consumers about their transition to KanCare during an educational tour Nov. 26-29.

The meetings will take place in 12 cities across Kansas to assist members in choosing their KanCare health plan. The initial assignment of each member to one of three health plans — Amerigroup, Sunflower State Health Plan and United Healthcare — was generated from a computer algorithm taking into account each member’s current primary provider and the health plans’ provider networks whenever possible.

“Achieving continuity of care for our patients is the goal for running the program for initial assignments. If members like the health plan that has been assigned to them and do not want to change to either one of the other plans, they are set for the new program; they only need to start using the new medical card on Jan. 1.”

— Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE secretary and state health officer

Members will have another 90 days starting Jan. 1, 2013, to choose a new plan if that’s their decision. This choice period is in addition to the amount of time members have between when they receive their pre-enrollment packets in November and the end of 2012.

Pre-enrollment packets are being mailed this month to the more than 380,000 Kansans who receive Medicaid services.

Logo, uploaded by Karrey Britt

THE TOUR

Following is a list of next week’s meetings. There will two meetings on the same day in each of the cities. The afternoon meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The evening meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is one exception and that’s in Garden City, where the afternoon meeting will start 1:30 p.m. Representatives from the three health plans will be at the meetings.

Monday, Nov. 26

• Topeka — Capital Plaza Hotel, Emerald Ballroom, 1717 SW Topeka Blvd.

• Pittsburg — Homer Cole Center, 3003 N. Joplin St.

• Dodge City — Dodge City Public Library, 1001 Second Ave.

Tuesday, Nov. 27

• Olathe — Holiday Inn Ballroom A/B, 101 W. 151st St.

• Independence — ICC West, Woods Family Community Center, 2615 W. Main.

• Garden City — Garden City Senior Center, 907 N. Tenth.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

• Kansas City — Hilton Garden Inn, Wyandotte 2, 520 Minnesota Ave.

• Wichita — Wichita State University Metroplex, Room 180, 5015 E. 29th St. North.

• Hays — Robbins Center at Fort Hays State University, Eagle Communications Hall, 1 Tiger Place.

Thursday, Nov. 29

• Emporia — Emporia Senior Center, 603 E. 12th Ave.

• El Dorado — El Dorado Civic Center, 201 E. Central

• Salina — Salina Bicentennial Center, Room 203 ABC, 800 The Midway.

Anyone with a disability may request accommodation for these meetings, such as Braille or an interpreter, in order to participate; however, transportation is not provided. Requests for this accommodation should be made at least two working days in advance of the meeting by contacting KanCare@kdheks.gov or by calling Rita Haverkamp at (785) 296-5107.

“The three health plans offered will cover the same services members have had in the past, plus new services such as heart and lung transplants, preventative dental services for adults and weight-loss services. The value-added services provided by one or more health plans include rewards programs for healthy behavior and career development services for people with disabilities, all at no cost to the state.”

— KDADS Secretary Shawn Sullivan

For more information about KanCare, visit KDHE’s website at kancare.ks.gov.

KanCare website. uploaded by Karrey Britt