How to start a skilled nursing facility in Kansas

Kansas requires a Adult care home license — nursing facility from Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Survey, Certification and Credentialing Commission to operate a skilled nursing facility. Fee: Base amount plus a per-bed amount, fixed by KDADS regulation and paid before the license issues (K.S.A. 39-930); amounts not restated here.

License required

Yes

License

Adult care home license — nursing facility

Issuing agency

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Survey, Certification and Credentialing Commission

Fee

Base amount plus a per-bed amount, fixed by KDADS regulation and paid before the license issues (K.S.A. 39-930); amounts not restated here.

Renewal

Every year · License stays in effect on filing an approved annual report and paying the annual fee (K.S.A. 39-928).

Medicare certification

Separate from the state license. The state survey agency runs an unannounced standard health survey, a Life Safety Code survey and an emergency-preparedness survey against 42 CFR Part 483 Subpart B. For a Medicare SNF the state certifies and the CMS Location decides Medicare participation; for a Medicaid-only NF the state's certification is final and the state Medicaid agency decides participation.

Regulation

K.S.A. 39-923 et seq. (39-928, 39-930); K.A.R. 26-39 et seq.

1. Apply to KDADS on its adult care home licensure forms with the base-plus-per-bed fee
2. Obtain approval of the state fire marshal
3. Pass the KDADS licensure inspection; the license issues if the applicant is fit and qualified and the facility meets requirements
4. For Medicare/Medicaid, complete federal certification and enroll with KanCare

Program

Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) / KanCare

Enrollment portal

KMAP provider portal (provider enrollment)

Fiscal agent

Gainwell Technologies (KMAP fiscal agent)

Application fee

Federal rule (42 CFR 455.460): the state must collect the CMS application fee from institutional providers that are newly enrolling or re-enrolling; individual physicians and non-physician practitioners are exempt, as are providers already enrolled in (or that already paid the fee to) Medicare or another state's Medicaid/CHIP. CMS set the fee at $750 for calendar year 2026.

Fingerprinting

KMAP's fingerprint FAQ says high-risk applicants may be printed by any authorized law enforcement agency, which mails the card to KDHE/DHCF in an envelope the provider supplies; the check takes about 5-10 business days. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.434, 455.450(c)): providers the state places in the 'high' categorical risk level, and anyone owning 5% or more of such a provider, must submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.

Site visit

Federal rule (42 CFR 455.432, 455.450(b)-(c)): the state must do site visits before and after enrollment for providers in the 'moderate' or 'high' risk levels, and any enrolled provider must allow unannounced on-site inspections.

Revalidation

Federal rule (42 CFR 455.414): every enrolled provider must be revalidated at least once every 5 years.

Full Kansas Medicaid enrollment guide →

CON program

No

Kansas certificate of need details →

State minimum wage

$7.25 an hour

Effective

2009-07-24

Scheduled increases

No scheduled change found in the official sources reviewed.

HCBS 80/20 rule

Federal baseline: 42 CFR 441.302(k) requires the state to show that each provider spends at least 80% of Medicaid payments for homemaker, home health aide and personal care services under 1915(c) waivers on direct care worker pay and benefits. Compliance starts 2030-07-09 (for managed care, the first rating period starting on or after that date); annual payment-adequacy reporting under 441.311(e) starts 2028-07-09. A state may set a lower share for state-defined small providers and exempt providers facing hardship, each only through a public notice-and-comment process. The eCFR text has not changed since 2024-07-09. No state-published 80/20 implementation step (small-provider criteria, hardship exemption or reporting guidance) was found for this state in the official sources reviewed.

Skilled nursing facilities — active organization NPIs (NPPES)

559 (as of Sep 13, 2026)

Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS Care Compare)

296 (as of Aug 1, 2026)

Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment (latest reported month)

393,912 (as of Jun 1, 2026)

All Kansas Skilled nursing Medicaid rates, ranked →