A federal panel says the KanCare takeover of long-term services for the developmentally disabled should be delayed.

KanCare, the state’s privatized program for the poor and disabled, is scheduled to begin providing those services Jan. 1. However, it needs a waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services by Jan. 1.

The National Council on Disability is recommending that Medicaid delay the waiver for one year. The panel says the state has not adequately considered concerns raised by clients, guardians and service providers about the expansion.

The Wichita Eagle reports the state Department for Aging and Disability Services officials disagreed with the panel’s recommendations.  They say the panel didn’t spend enough time in Kansas to understand the safeguards KanCare has to protect the rights of the disabled.