Bill > SB173

This bill establishes an annual legislative review process for Kentucky's Medicaid state plan and the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) state plan, which are legally binding contracts with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) outlining how these programs are administered. The Department for Medicaid Services must submit copies of the current state plans and summaries of any changes (known as State Plan Amendments or SPAs) that have been approved, denied, or are pending with CMS to the Legislative Research Commission by July 1st each year. These documents will then be reviewed by the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board by August 31st and the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services by October 31st, with department representatives required to provide testimony and answer questions. The bill also details the information that must be included in SPA summaries, such as the purpose of the change, its expected benefits, necessity, and fiscal impact, and grants the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board and the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services the authority to make recommendations or find state plans deficient if they conflict with state or federal law, exceed authority, or create undue burdens, with the Governor ultimately deciding how to address any identified deficiencies. Finally, the bill mandates that the department publish current state plans and submitted SPAs on its website and requires immediate submission of current state plans to the Legislative Research Commission upon the bill's enactment, declaring an emergency due to recent federal changes and budget increases necessitating immediate legislative oversight.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb173.html