Health News
In the face of serious turmoil caused by the move to managed care for Kentucky's poor and disabled, a new Medicaid commissioner has been appointed. Lawrence Kissner starts his new job July 1.
Gov. Steve Beshear acknowledged the privatized system, now run by four managed-care companies, has run into some bumps and said he feels Kissner will "ensure that the Medicaid program is more cost efficient and, most importantly, more effective in providing high quality care to the Kentuckians we serve."
Kissner has nearly 30 years experience in the private insurance industry, 17 of which were specifically in managed care. Most recently he was president and CEO of Magnolia Health Plan in Jackson, Miss., a managed care company. In Kentucky, he will over see the program which serves more than 800,000 Kentuckians. He replaces acting commissioner Neville Wise, who has spent more than 22 years in various positions in the Medicaid program. He will remain with the department. (Read more)
- State Won't Estimate Cost Of Greater-than-expected Medicaid Expansion For 'a Few Additional Months' ? After Nov. Election
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The Republican-controlled state Senate's budget committee chair wants to know how much Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear's expansion of the Medicaid program will cost, since enrollment in the federal-state program...
- Republican Legislators Keep Hammering State Officials And Managed-care Companies About Medicaid Payment Delays
Republican lawmakers reitarated this week that the companies managing Medcaid in Kentucky are still not paying health providers promptly. According to Sen. Joe Bowen, R-Owensboro, in the year since the state moved more than a half a million people to...
- Legislators Hear About Serious Problems In Managed-care System
The switch to the new Medicaid managed-care system is proving to be a nightmare, health officials told lawmakers Wednesday, with long delays in payment to providers and treatment for patients. "It appears to me the only place the savings can come from...
- More Complaints Lodged About Medicaid Managed Care; Lawmakers Demand Answers
Complaints continue to pile up about the state's new Medicaid managed care plans, which cover about 560,000 Kentuckians. Lawmakers are hearing gripes from providers who say they are not getting paid, and from patients and clinics who say the three...
- 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...
Health News
New Kentucky Medicaid commissioner appointed
In the face of serious turmoil caused by the move to managed care for Kentucky's poor and disabled, a new Medicaid commissioner has been appointed. Lawrence Kissner starts his new job July 1.
Gov. Steve Beshear acknowledged the privatized system, now run by four managed-care companies, has run into some bumps and said he feels Kissner will "ensure that the Medicaid program is more cost efficient and, most importantly, more effective in providing high quality care to the Kentuckians we serve."
Kissner has nearly 30 years experience in the private insurance industry, 17 of which were specifically in managed care. Most recently he was president and CEO of Magnolia Health Plan in Jackson, Miss., a managed care company. In Kentucky, he will over see the program which serves more than 800,000 Kentuckians. He replaces acting commissioner Neville Wise, who has spent more than 22 years in various positions in the Medicaid program. He will remain with the department. (Read more)
- State Won't Estimate Cost Of Greater-than-expected Medicaid Expansion For 'a Few Additional Months' ? After Nov. Election
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The Republican-controlled state Senate's budget committee chair wants to know how much Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear's expansion of the Medicaid program will cost, since enrollment in the federal-state program...
- Republican Legislators Keep Hammering State Officials And Managed-care Companies About Medicaid Payment Delays
Republican lawmakers reitarated this week that the companies managing Medcaid in Kentucky are still not paying health providers promptly. According to Sen. Joe Bowen, R-Owensboro, in the year since the state moved more than a half a million people to...
- Legislators Hear About Serious Problems In Managed-care System
The switch to the new Medicaid managed-care system is proving to be a nightmare, health officials told lawmakers Wednesday, with long delays in payment to providers and treatment for patients. "It appears to me the only place the savings can come from...
- More Complaints Lodged About Medicaid Managed Care; Lawmakers Demand Answers
Complaints continue to pile up about the state's new Medicaid managed care plans, which cover about 560,000 Kentuckians. Lawmakers are hearing gripes from providers who say they are not getting paid, and from patients and clinics who say the three...
- 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...