Health News
Coventry Cares, one of the four firms that manage patient care for the state Medicaid program, has once again hit the headlines, this time for its plans to stop paying for medicine that helps addicts keep their opioid addiction at bay. State officials quickly condemned the move Thursday and called it a contract violation, reports Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
- State Takes Medicaid Contractor Coventry's Side At Hearing Over Dispute With Appalachian Regional Healthcare
"Appalachian Regional Healthcare argued for a federal injunction against Medicaid contractor Coventry Cares on Tuesday as negotiations for a new agreement between the two have stalled," reports Mike Wynn of The Courier-Journal. At a hearing before District...
- Coventry Offers To Keep Paying Arh, But Less, For Treating Medicaid Patients; Asks Danville Chain To Renegotiate
Coventry Cares has offered to pay for treatments at Appalachian Regional Healthcare as a "non-contracted provider," which would mean ARH would be paid far less than it is now, but coverage for ARH's 25,000 Medicaid patient members would not be interrupted....
- Coventry, Arh At Impasse Over Medicaid; State Says Service Will Not Be Interrupted For 25,000 Affected
Though negotiations between Appalachian Regional Healthcare and Coventry Cares appear to be futile, the state is taking steps to make sure there won't be an interruption in care for the Medicaid recipients who will be affected by the impasse....
- Managed-care Firm Coventry Threatens To Terminate Contracts Of Baptist Healthcare And Big Ashland Hospital
Lexington Herald-Leader photo by Charles BertramIssues with the state's managed-care companies continue to mount. Now Coventry Cares has told Baptist Healthcare System, which has hospitals in Lexington, Louisville, La Grange, Paducah and Corbin,...
- Appalachian Hospital Chain, Facing Loss Of 25,000 Medicaid Patients, Sues Managed-care Firms And State
"Appalachian Regional Healthcare, the largest health care system in Eastern Kentucky, has filed lawsuits against two of the state's Medicaid managed care companies, alleging that the managed care companies had not paid claims promptly," report Valarie...
Health News
Medicaid managed-care firm Coventry plans to stop paying for expensive drug that curtails addiction
Coventry decided to stop paying for buprenorphine, more commonly known as Suboxone, which helps curtain cravings for drugs such as Oxycontin and Vicodin. A 30-day supply of the drug can cost more than $450, Musgrave reports.
"They will be at risk for relapsing and going back to using illegal opioids," Dr. Michelle Lofwall, an addiction specialist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, told Musgrave. "Whenever you are using illegal opioids, there is a risk of overdose and death."
Coventry said it will no longer offer the coverage because only pregnant women, women who recently gave birth and those under the age of 21 are eligible for addiction treatment in Kentucky's Medicaid program. "What we've done is align our coverage with the cabinet's Medicaid policy," said Matt Eyles, a Coventry spokesman.
However, the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services said the decision violates the contract and "cannot take this unilateral action without the cabinet's approval," said Jill Midkiff, a cabinet spokeswoman.
However, the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services said the decision violates the contract and "cannot take this unilateral action without the cabinet's approval," said Jill Midkiff, a cabinet spokeswoman.
A company that operates addiction treatment centers across the state was planning to file suit over the move Friday, but, after learning of the cabinet's reaction, "We are going to give them the chance to work this out," Anna Whites, an attorney who represents SelfRefind.
Coventry already caused controversy this week when it informed Baptist Health System wants to renegotiate its contract. The move comes just a week after Coventry and Appalachian Regional Healthcare came to a temporary agreement after Coventry threatened to terminate its contract and ARH sued Coventry. The company has also told King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland it will terminate its contract after May 26. (Read more)
- State Takes Medicaid Contractor Coventry's Side At Hearing Over Dispute With Appalachian Regional Healthcare
"Appalachian Regional Healthcare argued for a federal injunction against Medicaid contractor Coventry Cares on Tuesday as negotiations for a new agreement between the two have stalled," reports Mike Wynn of The Courier-Journal. At a hearing before District...
- Coventry Offers To Keep Paying Arh, But Less, For Treating Medicaid Patients; Asks Danville Chain To Renegotiate
Coventry Cares has offered to pay for treatments at Appalachian Regional Healthcare as a "non-contracted provider," which would mean ARH would be paid far less than it is now, but coverage for ARH's 25,000 Medicaid patient members would not be interrupted....
- Coventry, Arh At Impasse Over Medicaid; State Says Service Will Not Be Interrupted For 25,000 Affected
Though negotiations between Appalachian Regional Healthcare and Coventry Cares appear to be futile, the state is taking steps to make sure there won't be an interruption in care for the Medicaid recipients who will be affected by the impasse....
- Managed-care Firm Coventry Threatens To Terminate Contracts Of Baptist Healthcare And Big Ashland Hospital
Lexington Herald-Leader photo by Charles BertramIssues with the state's managed-care companies continue to mount. Now Coventry Cares has told Baptist Healthcare System, which has hospitals in Lexington, Louisville, La Grange, Paducah and Corbin,...
- Appalachian Hospital Chain, Facing Loss Of 25,000 Medicaid Patients, Sues Managed-care Firms And State
"Appalachian Regional Healthcare, the largest health care system in Eastern Kentucky, has filed lawsuits against two of the state's Medicaid managed care companies, alleging that the managed care companies had not paid claims promptly," report Valarie...