Kansas Medicaid Wins National Spotlight Award for Exceptional Adaptability During Unwinding

Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) has awarded its 2024 Spotlight Award to Kansas Medicaid for demonstrating remarkable flexibility and innovation throughout the Medicaid unwinding process. Kansas distinguished itself by successfully completing unwinding on schedule with no application backlog, while continuously adapting its approach to address emerging challenges.

“For us, unwinding success meant doing right by our members, and in Kansas, we achieved that,” KDHE Deputy Secretary of Agency Integration and Medicaid Christine Osterlund said. “What made Kansas’s approach unique was that no two months looked the same during unwinding. We reacted swiftly to changes in the landscape and to feedback from our stakeholders and members to ensure eligible Medicaid members remained enrolled.”

A standout achievement was the program’s increased ex parte renewal rates from 40% to over 70%. This major improvement in automatic renewals reflects the operational excellence of Kansas eligibility teams and supported coverage continuity for the people Kansas Medicaid serves.

“The remarkable increase in ex parte renewals reflects the tireless efforts of Kansas’ Medicaid team, who successfully redesigned one of the program’s most complex operational components,” said NAMD Executive Director Kate McEvoy. “Kansas Medicaid’s extraordinary ability to pivot and respond to real-time feedback set a new standard for agile program administration.”

The program’s adaptability was evident in numerous rapid improvements implemented during unwinding:

• Protection of Vulnerable Populations: Created an innovative partnership between eligibility workers and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) providers to prevent procedural disenrollments among waiver participants. This targeted initiative ensures Kansas’ most vulnerable residents maintain essential services through individualized support during renewals.
• Real-Time Process Improvements: Responded swiftly to mail delays by extending renewal deadlines and reinstating affected members
• Enhanced Communication: Expanded renewal materials to 17 additional languages and implemented ProComms software for personalized member outreach
• Digital Transformation: Doubled monthly portal usage to 45,000 users through targeted engagement
• Strategic Form Redesign: Reduced unsigned reviews from 3.25% to less than 1% by repositioning the signature page directly behind cover letters, removing a key barrier to completion

The state’s establishment of a Renewals Advisory Coalition provided crucial real-time feedback, allowing Kansas Medicaid to identify and address challenges quickly. These strategic partnerships with stakeholders expanded the program’s reach across the state, creating a comprehensive support system that will benefit Kansans well beyond the unwinding period.

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About NAMD’s Spotlight Award

The National Association of Medicaid Directors’ annual Spotlight Award recognizes exceptional leadership and innovation in Medicaid administration. The 2024 award specifically highlighted achievements during the unwinding period and their ongoing impact on Medicaid operations. Learn more about the other 2024 winners here.