Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)

The long-term services and supports (LTSS) program helps older adults and people with disabilities live independently.

KanCare program

LTSS services are covered under the KanCare program. This program covers a wide variety of long-term services and supports to help individuals get their services in their home setting. These individuals may need long-term services and supports due to a variety of reasons, including age, physical conditions, cognitive conditions, developmental conditions, chronic conditions, and/or a limited ability to care for oneself—all with the goal to that help improve quality of life for those individuals.

Services are provided over an extended period, predominantly in a Healthy Blue member’s home and community. LTSS covered services include assistance with basic activities of daily life and self-care, as well as support for everyday tasks such as laundry, shopping, and transportation. The services an individual can receive depend on the waiver which they are eligible for.

Kansas has a variety of waiver programs to promote independent living in safe, healthy environments. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) provide both medical and non-medical services to children and adults in the homes, assisted living, or residential care settings.

There are seven types of waivers, based on these conditions or diagnoses:

Autism (ages 0 to 5 years)
Frail Elderly (ages 65 years and up)
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ages 5 years and up)
Physical Disability (ages 16 to 64 years)
Serious Emotional Disturbance (ages 4 to 18 years)
Technology-Assisted (member needs ongoing care as they would receive in a hospital and rely on a medical device) (ages 0 to 21 years)
Brain Injury (ages 0 to 64 years)

For additional information on the current HCBS waivers for KanCare, please refer to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services page for Home and Community-Based Services.

Care coordination

Healthy Blue wants to make sure all KanCare members can live, learn, work, and enjoy life in the setting of their choice. For most members, that means remaining in their homes and in their communities. Other members may prefer to reside in a long-term care or nursing facility. Healthy Blue will work with members, their doctors, and other agencies involved in their care to help coordinate the services members need—including services delivered in a member’s home or community to live independently for as long as possible. This is called care coordination.

A Care Coordinator helps members manage their physical and mental health needs. Care Coordinators work with members to create a specific plan of care based on their preferences and needs. This is called the Service Plan (SP) or Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP). The member’s SP/PCSP will include specific objectives, goals, and action steps to meet their identified needs. Healthy Blue care coordinators will check in on members either monthly, quarterly or more often depending on their needs.

Refer to your provider manual for more information on LTSS requirements and covered benefits.

Provider enrollment

All providers wishing to enroll with Healthy Blue must access the application through the state’s Online Provider Enrollment System which is the same application used to apply directly with Kansas Medicaid.

Additional information on enrolling with Healthy Blue through KanCare can be accessed on the KanCare become a provider page.

Enroll with Healthy Blue

Refer a member

Please contact Provider Services to verify eligibility or refer a member for services.

Electronic visit verification

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) mandated that all states implement electronic visit verification (EVV) for agencies and/or caregivers providing in home personal care, attendant care, respite services and home health visits. EVV uses technology to record the timing and location of caregivers or direct service workers during appointment check-in and check-out. EVV applies to attendants, providers, and caregivers who deliver personal care to Healthy Blue members. This federal requirement is the result of the 21st Century Cures Act.

KanCare EVV resources

EVV Provider FAQ (coming soon)

Adverse Incidence Reporting (AIR)

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is the entity responsible for overseeing the operation of the incidence management system called Adverse Incidence Reporting (AIR) system. All HCBS providers are required to make a report into the AIR system for adverse incidents in accordance with State law and KDADS HCBS Adverse Incident Reporting and Management policy.

Adverse Incident Reporting (AIR) is a KDADS web application used by providers and individuals to report adverse/critical incidents involving individuals receiving services from agencies licensed or funded by KDADS. Providers can locate the AIR reporting form on the KDADS website.

Abuse, neglect, and exploitation (ANE), and fiduciary abuse are reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). ANE and fiduciary abuse are also reported to KDADS through the AIR system in accordance with State law and KDADS HCBS Adverse Incident Reporting and Management policy. Healthy Blue in Kansas takes appropriate action and follow-up for adverse incidents in accordance with the KDADS HCBS Adverse Incident Reporting and Management policy.