• Special to the Daily Leader

Mosaic representatives from all over the state of Kansas congregated March 2 in Topeka to advocate for individuals receiving services from their Mosaic agencies. Nearly 30 legislators from the House and Senate attended the Mosaic hosted luncheon at the Dillon House, next to the capitol, to hear what they had to say.

Mosaic representatives from all five agencies in the state including Ellsworth, Winfield, Garden City, Liberal and Kansas City traveled to Topeka to express concern about the recent 10 percent cut to the Medicaid waiver reimbursement rate.

Since Medicaid is the primary source of funding, estimated to be 95 percent, the rate reduction was anticipated to be absolutely devastating, reporting a $1.4 million loss to the Mosaic agencies across the state. Legislators were asked how it is possible that the state can expect a specific set of standards for quality of care, cut the reimbursement rate and diminish the budgets, and charge these agencies with the responsibility to provide quality care to those receiving services and to retain quality personnel.

During the heavy advocating at the Capitol, news spread that the most recent 10 percent rate reduction to the Medicaid waiver had been restored.

Advocacy work did not stop there for these agencies.

Legislators still need to know, that in order to provide the quality of services that are expected by the state, future cuts to this already fragile budget must not occur.

On the following day, Mosaic agencies in Kansas also participated in the events hosted by InterHab, an advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mosaic representatives trekked through the Capitol’s renovations and knocked on the doors of their legislators to spread the word about Mosaic and advocating for people in the Intellectual and Developmental Disability community.

They were able to greet them, shake their hands, and pass along a plastic color-changing cup representing “Invisible Kansans” along with a certificate for a free smoothie.

Mosaic agencies all over the state of Kansas encourage all to advocate to their legislators about the rates that effect the people in their own communities for whom they provide services to. It was an exhilarating experience for the representatives of Mosaic in Kansas to see and hear first hand from their legislators who speak on their behalf to the rest of the state in order to make the decisions that impact the most vulnerable of people.