Kansas Selects Innovation Strategy Group to Drive Medicaid Eligibility Modernization

Topeka, KS — The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has officially selected Innovation Strategy Group, LLC as its implementation partner for the launch of the new online Medicaid Functional Eligibility Instrument (MFEI) — a modernized assessment tool designed to streamline and standardize eligibility determinations for long-term services and supports across the state.

This selection marks a major milestone in Kansas’s ongoing effort to digitize critical Medicaid processes and ensure timely, equitable access to care for residents in need. The MFEI represents years of interagency collaboration, policy development, and stakeholder engagement — all aimed at aligning eligibility tools with best practices in person-centered care and data-driven service planning.

With deep experience in healthcare transformation, Innovation Strategy Group brings a strategic blend of policy insight, systems implementation, and operational change management to this engagement. The firm’s work focuses on modernizing public health infrastructure through innovative digital solutions and high-integrity delivery models that uphold regulatory and equity standards.

“A well-chosen contractor brings expertise and care to the administration of the MFEI, contributing to the integrity of the process and the equitable distribution of care to those in need,” said Michele Heydon, KDADS Long Term Services and Supports Commissioner. “We believe Innovation Strategy Group’s expertise will help us ensure that high standards are maintained using this new online tool.”

The firm will support KDADS through the full deployment lifecycle, including readiness assessments, data governance alignment, stakeholder training, and ongoing performance optimization. The result will be a more transparent, efficient, and fair approach to functional eligibility that reflects both state policy goals and federal Medicaid expectations.

Kansas joins a growing number of states embracing technology-forward approaches to Medicaid modernization. With Innovation Strategy Group at the helm of this project, KDADS is poised to lead the way in building a future-ready eligibility system that is both humane and high-performing.