Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and top officials in his administration are preparing to reorganize three departments as part of an overhaul of the Medicaid program.

Brownback scheduled a Thursday news conference to discuss the project. The governor was being joined by Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, who led the team that drafted the Medicaid overhaul plan, and secretaries of the departments of Aging, Health and Environment and Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Brownback issued an order in February to reorganize those agencies. The order takes effect in July because lawmakers didn’t
attempt to block it.

The administration plans to turn management of Medicaid over to three private companies next year. The $2.9 billion-a-year program covers medical services for the poor, elderly and disabled