Contrary to what some may have heard, the organization providing home health and hospice care in the three counties is not scheduled to close, but some changes are being made.
According to Memorial Health System in Abilene, Home Health & Hospice of Dickinson County (HH&H) has been serving a wide area of Dickinson, Morris and Marion counties for many years, and there is no question that the services they provide are greatly needed, and this is especially true in rural Kansas counties.
HH&H is a strong supporter of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers and has participated for many years in the Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver, Physically Disabled (PD), and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waivers. Patients who qualify for these HCBS waivers must be Medicaid eligible. These waivers pay for Medicaid approved patients to receive housekeeping, errands, personal care assistance, and many other services that allow them to receive long-term care services in their home or community rather than in a facility. In some cases, these waivers are the only way to keep these people in their homes, so the agency accepts patients that other agencies will not accept.
The Senior Care Act (SCA) is another long-term waiver service that will be phased out on October 1, 2024. These waivers also help support older Kansas residents who have functional limitations in self-care and independence to remain living in their own homes. The waivers are funded by a combination of state and federal funding, and patient costs are determined on a sliding fee scale based on the income and assets of those who are functionally eligible.
Dickinson County Home Health & Hospice is one of the few agencies participating in the HCBS and SCA waivers and providing needed services in our community. For our small agency, the challenge of continuing to provide these services is growing. Our intent was to go the extra mile to care for people in our community, not to pursue profits, but our small agency can no longer support the supply and demand needed to provide these services. We have been losing money for several years and we cannot sustain those losses any longer.
Home Health & Hospice of Dickinson County will not close. Our local staff is proud to be the only agency in our community providing quality care to our neighbors, friends and family and will continue to do so. HH&H is in contact with multiple agencies that can assist patients in finding agencies and individuals who can provide this type of service and is always ready to assist.
Independent Living Center
Dickinson, Marion and Morris Counties: Intendent Connection – 785-452-9580
Community Developmental Disabilities Organizations
Dickinson County: Kansas Disability Planning Organization: 785-823-3173
Marion County: Harvey-Marion County CDDO: 316-283-7997
Morris County: Hettlinger Developmental Services, Inc.: 620-342-1098
Local elderly support organizations
Dickinson, Marion, Morris Counties: North Central Flint Hills: 785-776-9294
Seniors and Disabilities Resource Center
Dickinson, Marion, Morris Counties: North Central Kansas ADRC: 785-242-7200
Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) – HCBS Division
785-368-6246
If waiver reimbursements are significantly modified to meet demand, we will resume admitting these patients. We also believe it is important for the community to advocate for these waivers in any way possible by contacting the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to call Dickinson County Home Health & Hospice at 785-263-6630.
