Families say Kansas Medicaid red tape cuts off kids from the medical equipment they need

Even when doctors prescribe Kansas Medicaid patients things like wheelchairs, walkers or bath chairs, families can face denials or long waits for medical equipment.
OLATHE, Kansas — It’s a typical Thursday evening in the Hoffman house.

The family hangs out in the living room for a small dance party. Then one of the kids reads a book to 18-month-old Miles.

Neil and Abby Hoffman make sure Miles, who has chronic lung disease and cerebral palsy, joins in with his three siblings while sitting in his positioning chair.

“He has some vision problems,” Neil Hoffman said. “He eats through a G tube (a gastrostomy tube used to deliver food and medication directly to the stomach), has a tracheostomy tube in his throat. (He’s) ventilator dependent. So he’s basically on life support. But he’s doing really well. He’s fighting through it all.”