Spread the word – Open enrollment for traditional Medicaid through June 18

Open enrollment for traditional Medicaid (not Medicaid expansion) is occurring now through June 18. If you and/or your children have traditional Medicaid health insurance or KCHIP, you can change Medicaid managed care plans during this open enrollment period. If you work with Medicaid members, please let them know about this open enrollment period. Members do not have to switch plans if they don't want to. Open enrollment applies to all regions of the state except Region [...]

By |2014-05-27T09:00:07-04:00May 27th, 2014|Blog, Health|

Health Coverage Continues to Increase for Children in Kentucky

Jeffersontown, KY – Over the last decade the number of uninsured Kentucky children has decreased by 2.9 percentage points. According to the new Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS), roughly 1 in 14, or 6.9 percent of children in Kentucky had no health coverage in 2011 and 2012 down from 9.8 percent in 2001 and 2002. Across the country, 17.8 percent of the overall population under 65 lacked health coverage in 2011-2012. In Kentucky, 17.2 [...]

By |2013-09-17T18:30:36-04:00September 17th, 2013|News Room|

Special report on Medicaid managed care indicates problems

Medicaid managed care is in the news again – or did it ever really leave? State Auditor Adam Edelen released a report at the end of July on the three Medicaid managed care companies which began operating  across the state (except for the areas in and around Louisville) in November 2011: Coventry Cares, Kentucky Spirit Health Plan, and WellCare. Tuesday, the Courier-Journal ran an editorial entitled simply: “Fix managed care”. The audit and the editorial [...]

By |2013-08-08T14:17:49-04:00August 8th, 2013|Blog, Health|

Court Ruling Protects Model that Brings Health Services to Where Kids Are

The court ruling this week in Franklin Circuit Court signals progress on an issue that put in danger a successful model of providing health services to children at school. A Medicaid managed care company – Kentucky Spirit – had argued that they did not need to reimburse local health departments for services provided at schools to children who have Medicaid. Though Kentucky Spirit may still appeal, the court ruled that they need to adhere to [...]

By |2013-05-30T13:35:08-04:00May 30th, 2013|Blog, Health|

Reminder – Upcoming Medicaid Managed Care Forums Hosted by Cabinet

As part of Governor Steve Beshear’s emphasis on enhanced education efforts related to Medicaid managed care, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has scheduled forums for health care providers in each of the eight Medicaid regions during May and June. Senior officials from CHFS will attend the session, including Cabinet Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes, Medicaid Commissioner Lawrence Kissner, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Stephanie Mayfield Gibson and Behavioral Health Commissioner Stephen Hall. The forums [...]

By |2013-05-30T08:34:04-04:00May 30th, 2013|Blog, Health|

Cabinet Hosting Medicaid Managed Care Forums Across KY – Eastern KY Forums this Week!

Governor Beshear has directed the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to initiate enhanced educational efforts to improve the Medicaid managed care implementation system. At the Governor’s request, CHFS will sponsor educational forums in each of the eight Medicaid regions. These forums are designed to allow medical providers, managed care organization (MCO) representatives, and Department of Insurance (DOI) representatives to meet face-to-face to discuss concerns about proper billing, appeals processes and any specific regional [...]

By |2013-05-06T09:54:39-04:00May 6th, 2013|Blog, Health|

Fixing Medicaid Managed Care – Governor Beshear Steps Up to the Plate

Last Friday, Governor Beshear vetoed HB 5, a bill that was intended to address issues of prompt payment to health care providers by Kentucky’s managed care companies, but he released an alternative plan to address both individual and systematic problems with managed care. In November 2011, Kentucky moved to a statewide managed care system for Medicaid, the program that provides health insurance to low-income children and parents, pregnant women and people with disabilities. You can read [...]

By |2013-04-11T10:50:03-04:00April 11th, 2013|Blog, Health|

Managed Care 101: Medicaid Managed Care Status Update

Managed care is certainly a hot topic in our state. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, Kentucky has undergone major changes to its Medicaid program since 2011 by bringing in multiple private companies to run Medicaid in order to save costs. This new system is called Medicaid managed care. The transition has been anything but easy, and it looks as if the road will remain bumpy for awhile longer. The House Budget Review Subcommittee on [...]

By |2013-02-21T11:52:13-05:00February 21st, 2013|Blog, Health|
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