Health News
The massive switch to managed care organizations for Kentucky's Medicaid program, pushed by Gov. Steve Beshear, isn't in the bag yet. The Advisory Council for Medical Assistance, which advises officials on Medicaid issues, has asked that the switch be delayed by 90 days. It is supposed to happen Oct. 1, the Lexington Herald-Leader's Jack Brammer reports. (Photo by H-L's Pablo Alcala)
- State And Companies Were Unprepared For Quick Move To Managed Care, State Auditor Concludes
Kentucky officials and the companies in charge were unprepared for the switch to Medicaid managed care, State Auditor Adam Edelen said Wednesday. He sent the Cabinet for Health and Family Services 10 recommendations to improve the system, which provides...
- Home-health Industry Is The Latest To Complain About Late Payments Since State Switched To Managed-care Medicaid
Kentucky's new Medicaid managed-care system is three months late in making payments to home-health agencies, officials told the House Health and Welfare Committee Thursday. Nurses Registry and Home Health has outstanding claims of $300,000 to $400,000,...
- State's Medicaid Program Will Be Handled By Managed Care Companies Starting Tomorrow
Update, Nov. 1: Kentucky Voices for Health, a coalition of more than 250 health care organizations, individuals and advocates, released its views on the move to managed care, which they said must be as much about improving the quality of health care as...
- Medicaid's Move To Managed Care Delayed Until Nov. 1; Hospitals Need More Time To Sign Contracts
The move to managed care, which the state has touted as the answer to improve the quality of its Medicaid system and solve a budget deficit, has been delayed by a month in response to the Kentucky Hospital Association saying hospitals need more time to...
- Feds Ok Managed-care Medicaid; Firms Advertise For Enrollees
The move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients is one step further to being implemented. The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have approved the state's plan to have three managed-care organizations provide care for...
Health News
Council asks move to managed care be delayed 90 days
The massive switch to managed care organizations for Kentucky's Medicaid program, pushed by Gov. Steve Beshear, isn't in the bag yet. The Advisory Council for Medical Assistance, which advises officials on Medicaid issues, has asked that the switch be delayed by 90 days. It is supposed to happen Oct. 1, the Lexington Herald-Leader's Jack Brammer reports. (Photo by H-L's Pablo Alcala)"All we're asking for is to give everybody more time to get this thing implemented," said Ron Poole, who represents the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. "We're 49 days away, and all practitioners and providers have not yet received a contract ... They need time to review the contracts and determine if they want to participate."
Poole told Brammer he didn't think the request to delay would be granted, but insisted it's needed. Jill Midkiff, a spokewoman for the state health cabinet, said she could not comment on the request because "it had not received any notification or official recommendation from the council," Brammer reports.
The move to managed care is the state's answer to plug a $139 million hole in the Medicaid budget. Privatizing the program will mean providers will be paid on a per-patient, per-month basis, which Gov. Beshear said will save $1.3 billion over three years. Right now, providers are paid on a fee-for-service basis, meaning they bill for each service that is provided. The move will affect more than 800,000 Kentuckians. (Read more)
- State And Companies Were Unprepared For Quick Move To Managed Care, State Auditor Concludes
Kentucky officials and the companies in charge were unprepared for the switch to Medicaid managed care, State Auditor Adam Edelen said Wednesday. He sent the Cabinet for Health and Family Services 10 recommendations to improve the system, which provides...
- Home-health Industry Is The Latest To Complain About Late Payments Since State Switched To Managed-care Medicaid
Kentucky's new Medicaid managed-care system is three months late in making payments to home-health agencies, officials told the House Health and Welfare Committee Thursday. Nurses Registry and Home Health has outstanding claims of $300,000 to $400,000,...
- State's Medicaid Program Will Be Handled By Managed Care Companies Starting Tomorrow
Update, Nov. 1: Kentucky Voices for Health, a coalition of more than 250 health care organizations, individuals and advocates, released its views on the move to managed care, which they said must be as much about improving the quality of health care as...
- Medicaid's Move To Managed Care Delayed Until Nov. 1; Hospitals Need More Time To Sign Contracts
The move to managed care, which the state has touted as the answer to improve the quality of its Medicaid system and solve a budget deficit, has been delayed by a month in response to the Kentucky Hospital Association saying hospitals need more time to...
- Feds Ok Managed-care Medicaid; Firms Advertise For Enrollees
The move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients is one step further to being implemented. The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have approved the state's plan to have three managed-care organizations provide care for...