Health News
- Significant Management Improvements At Passport Health Plan, Audit Finds
Passport Health Plan has improved significantly since a 2010 audit uncovered wasteful spending and other problems, a new audit has concluded. The managed care organization that cares for Medicaid recipients in Jefferson and 15 surrounding counties "has...
- 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,...
- 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...
- Move To Managed Care On Track For Oct. 1, Secretary Says
Despite a recent request to delay by an advisory council, and a low number of signups by hospitals so far, the move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients should be completed by Oct. 1. "We are prepared to proceed with an Oct. 1 timeframe,"...
- Bill Filed To Tighten Oversight Of Medicaid Managed Care Programs
In the wake of an eye-opening audit of Passport Health Plan, a Democratic lawmaker is sponsoring a bill to tighten the oversight over such Medicaid managed-care programs. State Rep. Jimmie Lee of Elizabethtown filed House Bill 265, which requires...
Health News
Legislators question if Medicaid is ready for managed care
"State lawmakers on Thursday questioned whether the state has the resources and expertise to oversee moving the $6 billion Medicaid program to private, for-profit managed care companies," Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.
Staff of the Interim Committee on Program Review and Investigations, chaired by Republican Sen. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon, left, reviewed reports and found state Medicaid staff did not adequately analyze their current program to determine if there were savings or if there were waste and abuse. These reports "quite frankly, have us concerned that the cabinet is not fully prepared" to switch to and monitor managed care by July 1, as per the deadline, Higdon said.
In testimony, officials with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services told lawmakers they do feel they have the expertise to handle managed-care contracts. Neville Wise, acting Medicaid commissioner, said part of the contract monitoring will be done by an independent contractor. He did not say the cabinet would be ready to implement managed care by July 1.
Sen. Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs, also asked cabinet officials how they will assess whether managed-care organizations save the state money once they are implemented en masse. The cabinet could not determine if the only managed care organization already in place, Passport Health Plan in the Louisville region, saved the state money. That was one of the weaknesses pointed out in a highly critical audit by state Auditor Crit Luallen.
Moving to managed care is the centerpiece of Gov. Steve Beshear's proposal to fill a $166 million gap in the Medicaid budget. Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, says he is unconvinced. Williams is running against Beshear for governor in the Nov. 8 election. (Read more)
- Significant Management Improvements At Passport Health Plan, Audit Finds
Passport Health Plan has improved significantly since a 2010 audit uncovered wasteful spending and other problems, a new audit has concluded. The managed care organization that cares for Medicaid recipients in Jefferson and 15 surrounding counties "has...
- 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,...
- 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...
- Move To Managed Care On Track For Oct. 1, Secretary Says
Despite a recent request to delay by an advisory council, and a low number of signups by hospitals so far, the move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients should be completed by Oct. 1. "We are prepared to proceed with an Oct. 1 timeframe,"...
- Bill Filed To Tighten Oversight Of Medicaid Managed Care Programs
In the wake of an eye-opening audit of Passport Health Plan, a Democratic lawmaker is sponsoring a bill to tighten the oversight over such Medicaid managed-care programs. State Rep. Jimmie Lee of Elizabethtown filed House Bill 265, which requires...