Tag: legislature
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Republicans question need for Kynect; Beshear administration officials say using federal insurance exchange would cost more
With the U.S. Supreme Court approving Obamacare subsidies on the federal health-insurance exchange as well as state exchanges, some Republican legislators in Kentucky say the state should close its exchange,...
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Republican legislators question cabinet’s figures on managed-care payments and cost projections for Medicaid expansion
Audrey Haynes (cn|2 image) “When Audrey Haynes sat down before the legislature’s Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee Wednesday, she expected the data she brought would persuade lawmakers that Kentucky’s expansion...
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Louisville opens first needle exchange in state; officials predict rural counties will be slow to follow
Photo by Scott Utterback, The Courier-Journal Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness opened its mobile needle-exchange program Wednesday, June 10, making Louisville the first place in Kentucky to implement such...
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State health commissioner backs needle exchanges, most controversial part of anti-heroin legislation passed this year
The Kentucky General Assembly cracked down in 2012 on “pill mills” that dispense painkillers irresponsibly, and addicts responded by going for heroin, creating a big problem in much of the...
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Advocates of state appeals for Medicaid managed-care claims make last-ditch effort to get it passed, by hijacking another bill
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — Advocates of a bill to create a state appeals process for health-care providers to appeal decisions of Medicaid managed-care companies are...
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Bill to give civil protection to victims of dating violence is poised to become law, addressing a serious health issue for women
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Victims of violence between dating partners in Kentucky are about to get a law giving them civil court protection, after years of hitting...
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As session nears end, bills on heroin, dating-violence orders, managed-care appeals and lawsuit review panels are hanging fire
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – The General Assembly has sent Gov. Steve Beshear four health-related bills, and several more could reach his desk in the legislative...
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State Senate passes bill for independent appeals process for managed-care claims; hearing gets into details of the problem
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Managed-care organizations’ contracts allow them to deny Medicaid claims and not reimburse for services if they deem them not medically necessary. That means health-care...
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Bill to cap co-payments for drugs is backed by emotional testimony, but opposed by health insurers and employer groups
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — People with chronic conditions are often denied the best medication for their condition because it is not on their insurance plan’s...
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Bill would require Medicaid managed-care firms to pay contracted fees for ER visits; Senate hearing targets two companies
This story has been updated with comments from Wellcare of Kentucky. By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — Managed care is touted as a way to achieve value-based...