Medicaid appeals in Kansas: hearing deadline and keeping benefits
KanCare (Kansas Medicaid): you have 33 days to ask for a fair hearing.
If your hearing request is received before the effective date of the action on your notice, your Medicaid continues until the hearing decision (with some exceptions, such as when the only issue is a change in law).
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
Appeal deadlines are strict. If you are near a deadline or your care is urgent, call free help today.
Medicaid (KanCare (Kansas Medicaid)) denials in Kansas
- Medicaid agency
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Health Care Finance (KDHE-DHCF), with the KanCare Clearinghouse
- Who holds the hearing
Kansas Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH); reviews of the hearing officer's initial order go to the KDHE-DHCF State Appeals Committee
- Hearing deadline
33 days
The date the notice of action is mailed (the request must be received within 33 days)
- How to ask for a hearing
- Online: Download the OAH Medicaid Recipient Administrative Hearing Request form, fill it out and upload it as a PDF on the OAH website (oah.ks.gov/forms/display/medicaid-recipient-request)
- Mail: Office of Administrative Hearings, 1020 S. Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66612-1327
- Fax: OAH fax 785-296-4848
- Phone: KDHE policy says a request can be made orally, in person or by phone; OAH phone 785-296-2433 (711 relay)
- Form: Medicaid Recipient – Administrative Hearing Request (OAH); you can also email oah@ks.gov
- Mail address
Office of Administrative Hearings, 1020 S. Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66612-1327
- What to include
Your name and mailing address, the date of the notice you are appealing, the worker and agency office named on it, the program, the reasons you are asking for a hearing, whether you are receiving benefits or services now and when they end, whether you want an expedited hearing, and your signature. Add your representative's or attorney's contact details if you have one (not required).
- Keeping your benefits during the appeal
If your hearing request is received before the effective date of the action on your notice, your Medicaid continues until the hearing decision (with some exceptions, such as when the only issue is a change in law). If the action was taken without timely notice, ask within 10 days of the date the notice was mailed to have assistance reinstated. Assistance also continues if you ask the State Appeals Committee to review the hearing decision.
Law: 42 CFR 431.230-431.231; KEESM 1610-1617, 1614.7 (KDHE-DHCF, July 2026)
- When the hearing is held
The hearing officer must issue the initial order no later than 90 days after the request is received. You or the agency can ask the KDHE-DHCF State Appeals Committee to review it, or ask for a rehearing, within 18 days of the initial decision (15 days plus 3 days for mailing).
Law: KEESM 1617; KEESM 1610-1617, 1614.7 (KDHE-DHCF, July 2026)
- Faster (expedited) hearing
Ask for an expedited hearing on the request form (or any time before the hearing) and include medical records or a written opinion from a medical professional showing an urgent medical need. Without documentation the request is denied. If approved, the hearing is scheduled as soon as possible, no later than 7 working days after the expedited request is received.
Law: KEESM 1610-1617, 1614.7 (KDHE-DHCF, July 2026)
Medicaid health plan (managed care) in Kansas
- Appeal to the plan first
Most KanCare members get services through a KanCare health plan (managed care organization). If your plan denies, reduces or stops a service, follow the appeal instructions in the plan's notice: appeal to the plan first, then you can ask the Office of Administrative Hearings for a state fair hearing.
Law: 42 CFR 438.402, 438.408
Write my appeal: free letters
Sources
The official sources for Kansas are listed on the Kansas page.