Monday, November 5, 2012

Two top officials in Gov. Sam Brownback's administration say the state has completed updated lists containing the names of physically disabled Kansans seeking in-home services.

Lt. Gov. Jeff Coyer and Aging and Disability Services Secretary Shawn Sullivan announced Monday the list was cut to 2,197 people, reducing it by about a third after workers validated the names of those seeking services.

Advocates for the disabled had complained that people on the list were waiting too long to receive help they were entitled to under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states must provide services to people with disabilities.

Earlier this year, negotiations broke down between the Brownback administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and HHS forwarded the waiting list complaints to the Justice Department.